Blessed MICHAEL RUA
Michael Rua was born in Turin in 1837 and entered the Oratory of Valdocco in
1852. Two years later he was among the first to whom Don Bosco suggested the
formation of the Salesian Society. After becoming a priest he was always at Don Bosco's
side and in 1865 became his Vicar. This office he filled so effectively that in 1884, at the
explicit request of the Saint, Leo XIII decided that he should be the Founder's successor,
and confirmed him as Rector Major in 1888.
His strict fidelity earned for him the title of "The Living Rule"; and his fatherliness
was so imbued with delicacy that he was also called a "sovereign of kindness". By his
wise and far-seeing actions, sometimes considered even socially daring, he enriched
the Oratory with gymnasiums and group activities; he anticipated state regulations by
drawing up appropriate curricula for the professional schools; he instituted technical and
commercial courses alongside the classical ones, and set up hostels for boarders. As the
number of confreres increased and the work developed, he opened the whole
world to the Salesians, giving particular attention to the missionary expeditions. Through
the lengthy journeys that he undertook to visit Salesian works in Europe and the Middle
East to give encouragement and support to the confreres, he always referred back to the
Founder: "Don Bosco used to say...", "Don Bosco used to do...", "Don Bosco would
want...".
He died on 6 April 1910, and at his beatification on 29 October 1972 Paul VI
remarked: "The Salesian Family had in Don Bosco its origin, and in Don Rua its
continuation. He drew all his teachings from the Saint; he derived an authentic ethos
from his Rule; and he made the Saint's holiness the model to be followed. Don Rua
instituted a genuine tradition."
The Mass texts are an invitation to celebrate the wonderful initiative of the love of
the Father, who in Blessed Michael Rua offers the People of God a further eloquent and
efficacious sign for bringing back mankind to the holiness of its first beginnings. The
secret is to be found in a life consecrated entirely to Christ for the sake of the kingdom
The assembly is conscious of this, and therefore asks to grow in holiness through
listening to the word and sharing in the table of the body and blood of the Son
Those who are called to educate the young
!
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