Happy Feast of Blessed Michael Rua. One of Don Bosco’s first kids, first seminarians, and his first successor to guide the Salesians of Don Bosco. Michael Rua came to Don Bosco when he was only 8 years old and was pretty much at Don Bosco’s side for 40+ years. Don Bosco shared everything in life with Don Rua and trusted him completely with the Salesians. Don Rua was known as the living rule because he showed Salesians what it meant live as Don Bosco advised. He was very studious and organized and grew the Society of St. Francis de Sales from around 700 to about 4,000 in his 22 years as Rector Major. In the 1870’s when Don Bosco was invited to go to Spain, he made Don Rua accompany him. When they got there, Don Bosco was surprised to find that Don Rua spoke Spanish very well. He found out that upon hearing he would accompany Don Bosco, Don Rua spent the next three months learning Spanish amidst his already exhausting schedule. Thank you Michael Rua for all the good work you did for the Salesians, the Church, and the world.
Blessed Michael Rua pray for us.
