1.
Michael Rua, S.D.B., (Italian: Michele Rua) (9 June 1837 - 6 April 1910) was
an Italian Catholic priest,
a student of St. John Boscoand
first collaborator in the founding of the Salesians of Don
Bosco. He was the first Rector Major of the
Salesians, and has been beatified by the Catholic Church.
Michael Rua was Don Bosco's closest collaborator in the development of the new
Salesian congregation
2.
Early
life
Rua was
born in Turin in Italy, in a poverty-stricken neighborhood on the outskirts of
the city of Turin. He was
the youngest of the nine children of Giovanni Battista and Giovanna Maria Rua.
He was a refined and quiet. He used to dress neatly. The father, who was the
supervisor of a weapons factory in the city, died on 2 August 1845 when he
barely 8 years old. He then lived with his widowed mother in their apartment in
the factory which she was able to keep, and which then employed her. The young
Michel attended a school run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools. .
Michael Rua was one of the boys who at fifteen came
to live with St John Bosco in his Oratory in Turin and later became his close
associate in the setting up and early guidance of the Society of Don Bosco
(Salesians), now one of the biggest religious orders in the world.
3.
“We two will go halves
in everything”
One day Don Bosco was giving out little medals and Michael, who was late and at the end of the line, thought he heard him say, “Take, Michelino”. The priest stood there but he didn’t give him anything. Then he said to him, “We two will go halves in everything”. And that was how it turned out. Michael went on to become the founder’s close friend and associate. He was among the first few with whom Don Bosco shared the idea of forming a Salesian Society. The order was called after Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), who had a genius for converting souls through kindness and persuasion.
One day Don Bosco was giving out little medals and Michael, who was late and at the end of the line, thought he heard him say, “Take, Michelino”. The priest stood there but he didn’t give him anything. Then he said to him, “We two will go halves in everything”. And that was how it turned out. Michael went on to become the founder’s close friend and associate. He was among the first few with whom Don Bosco shared the idea of forming a Salesian Society. The order was called after Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), who had a genius for converting souls through kindness and persuasion.
4.
Inspired by Don Bosco
Michael Rua joined the other first Salesians at seventeen, and, inspired by Don Bosco’s example, he spent his days at the youth club, morning and evening classes, supervising theatre or music rehearsals, gymnastics, lively outdoor games, solitary study, along with frequent reception of the sacraments. “I got much more from observing Don Bosco, even in the humblest of actions,” Rua later said, “than from reading and meditating on a treatise on asceticism.”
Michael Rua joined the other first Salesians at seventeen, and, inspired by Don Bosco’s example, he spent his days at the youth club, morning and evening classes, supervising theatre or music rehearsals, gymnastics, lively outdoor games, solitary study, along with frequent reception of the sacraments. “I got much more from observing Don Bosco, even in the humblest of actions,” Rua later said, “than from reading and meditating on a treatise on asceticism.”
5.
Close collaborator
Rua was Don Bosco’s closest collaborator in the development of the new Salesian congregation over the next thirty-six years. He made his first profession in 1855, was the first spiritual director of the Society at the age of 22 years (1859), was ordained priest in 1860. At 26 became the rector of the college at Mirabello in Emilia-Romagna, the first Salesian foundation outside Turin.
Rua was Don Bosco’s closest collaborator in the development of the new Salesian congregation over the next thirty-six years. He made his first profession in 1855, was the first spiritual director of the Society at the age of 22 years (1859), was ordained priest in 1860. At 26 became the rector of the college at Mirabello in Emilia-Romagna, the first Salesian foundation outside Turin.
6.
Illness
In 1865, Michael returned to Turin to rejoin Don Bosco, who was ill and over-burdened with work. He re-organised the house at Valdocco, a youth club with a boarding school of seven hundred students whose spirit had declined. With remarkable tact, he restored good discipline. But in July 1868, Don Rua’s constant activity got the better of his strength and he was confined to bed with a sudden attack of peritonitis. The doctors gave him only a few hours to live. But Don Bosco asserted, “Listen, Don Rua, even if you were thrown out the window just as you are, I assure you that you won’t die.” A few days later, despite the doctor’s prognosis, the patient recovered.
In 1865, Michael returned to Turin to rejoin Don Bosco, who was ill and over-burdened with work. He re-organised the house at Valdocco, a youth club with a boarding school of seven hundred students whose spirit had declined. With remarkable tact, he restored good discipline. But in July 1868, Don Rua’s constant activity got the better of his strength and he was confined to bed with a sudden attack of peritonitis. The doctors gave him only a few hours to live. But Don Bosco asserted, “Listen, Don Rua, even if you were thrown out the window just as you are, I assure you that you won’t die.” A few days later, despite the doctor’s prognosis, the patient recovered.
7.
Differences in character
Although the two men were close, each kept his own personality and sometimes were in opposition. Where Don Bosco would focus on the work of the day and was audacious in his projects, Don Rua was prudent, calculating, and foresaw and forestalled the problems he saw coming down the track.
Although the two men were close, each kept his own personality and sometimes were in opposition. Where Don Bosco would focus on the work of the day and was audacious in his projects, Don Rua was prudent, calculating, and foresaw and forestalled the problems he saw coming down the track.
8.
Successor to Don Bosco
When Don Bosco died, Pope Leo XIII, honouring his request, designated Michael as his successor. There was progress in Europe, Italy, Spain, France and England.
When Don Bosco died, Pope Leo XIII, honouring his request, designated Michael as his successor. There was progress in Europe, Italy, Spain, France and England.
Unusual Foundations
At Naples in 1909 they accepted the
Direction of a school for deaf- mutes.
At Sienna, on the island of Malta,
the Congregation accepted in 1903 a
school for young delinquents.
Finally, a work on behalf of Italian
workers laboring at the Sempion tunnel was highly praised not only by Catholics
but even by the Socialists of the time.
Recruitment
There were 774 religious professed
at the time of Don Bosco’s death which increased to 4,001 at the death of Don
Rua.
The Salesian, he explained, is like
a diligent gardener cultivating with particular solicitude those tender little
plants which are healthier and more flourishing than the rest and are destined
to produce the grains that will be the seed for the new harvest.
Provinces
From 1888 to 1910 the number
increased from 6 to 32.
“The Living Rule”
Nicknamed “The Living
Rule” because of his austere fidelity, Don Michael Rua was also known for
his fatherliness and goodness. As the numbers of members and communities
increased, he sent Salesians all over the world, showing special care for the
missionary expeditions. In the long and difficult journeys which he undertook
to visit the Salesian works in Europe and in the Middle East, he was a constant
source of comfort and encouragement, always taking inspiration from the Founder
with words like: “Don Bosco used to say… Don Bosco used to do it this way… Don
Bosco wanted…” just before Don Bosco passed away he whispered to him: “Make
yourself loved”. Fr. Auffray notes that the contrast between them was striking:
“In one, the face, smile and attitude pointed to fatherly goodness; in the
other, the whole person showed a gentle seriousness, recollected activity, and
a note of austerity. Among the boys in the playground, the former appeared gay,
expansive, cordia; the latter, instead, as affable as the Father but more
restrained, less effusive.
9.
Years of suffering
These were years of great suffering. In 1895, a Salesian priest was murdered by a half-crazy student. Five months later, Bishop Lasagna, one of the great hopes of the Salesian society, his secretary, and four sisters of Mary Help of Christians, were victims of a train accident. Then, a flood in Argentina destroyed the material results of ten years of missionary work. In France, the so-called Law of Associations (June 2, 1901) required the closing and sale of the Salesian establishments. In 1907, a scandal in a high school stirred up a violent storm of protest against the Salesians all across Italy. He vowed to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, if the honour of his religious family was fully restored. It was, and he fulfilled his vow in 1908.
These were years of great suffering. In 1895, a Salesian priest was murdered by a half-crazy student. Five months later, Bishop Lasagna, one of the great hopes of the Salesian society, his secretary, and four sisters of Mary Help of Christians, were victims of a train accident. Then, a flood in Argentina destroyed the material results of ten years of missionary work. In France, the so-called Law of Associations (June 2, 1901) required the closing and sale of the Salesian establishments. In 1907, a scandal in a high school stirred up a violent storm of protest against the Salesians all across Italy. He vowed to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, if the honour of his religious family was fully restored. It was, and he fulfilled his vow in 1908.
Growth of the society, death and
influence
When Michael Rua died on 6th April 1910 at the age of 73, the Society had grown from 773 to 4000 Salesians, from 57 to 345 communities, from 6 to 34 Provinces in 33 countries. His body is venerated in the crypt of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Valdocco in Turin. Don Rua was beatified by Pope Paul VI on October 29, 1972. Today the Salesians are one of the third largest missionary societies in the world, with about 18,000 members and some are involved in the work of the Curia in Rome.
When Michael Rua died on 6th April 1910 at the age of 73, the Society had grown from 773 to 4000 Salesians, from 57 to 345 communities, from 6 to 34 Provinces in 33 countries. His body is venerated in the crypt of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Valdocco in Turin. Don Rua was beatified by Pope Paul VI on October 29, 1972. Today the Salesians are one of the third largest missionary societies in the world, with about 18,000 members and some are involved in the work of the Curia in Rome.
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