MIRACULOUS MIRACLES™

Saint — Bl. Michele Rua, SDB

All Saints
Bl. Michele Rua, SDB
June 9, 1837 AD, Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia — April 6, 1910 AD, Turin, Kingdom of Italy
Italian Salesian; first successor of St. John Bosco as Superior General of the Salesians
Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Turin, Italy — Salesian mother-house, Italy
Feast
April 29
Canonized
Beatified October 29, 1972 by Pope St. Paul VI
Life

Michele Rua was born on June 9, 1837 at Turin to a Rua working-class family. In 1852, at the age of 15, Michele joined St. John Bosco's Oratory of Valdocco — becoming one of the first Salesian novices.

Ordained priest in 1860, Michele served as personal secretary to St. John Bosco (see his existing entry) — the 28-year Bosco-Rua collaboration (1860–1888).

In 1888, on the death of St. John Bosco, Michele was elected first Rector Major (Superior General) of the Salesians of Don Bosco — the first successor to the founder.

For 22 years (1888–1910), Michele led the Salesian expansion — growing the Salesians from 773 members and 64 houses at Bosco's death to 4,001 members and 341 houses at Michele's death.

He died at Turin on April 6, 1910. Beatified October 29, 1972 by Pope St. Paul VI.

Miracles & Phenomena

  • The Salesian expansion

    Bl. Michele Rua's 22-year Superior Generalship (1888–1910) — growing the Salesians from 773 members and 64 houses to 4,001 members and 341 houses — established the 20th-century Salesian youth-education tradition. The Salesians extend to over 15,000 members in 132 countries to the present day.

Relics
  • Body
    Relics of Bl. Michele Rua
    Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Turin, Italy — Salesian mother-house

    His relics rest at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin — beside the tomb of St. John Bosco.

Iconography
  • Rua with Don Bosco

    The late-19th-century young Salesian beside St. John Bosco at the Valdocco Oratory in Turin — the iconography of Catholic 19th-and-20th-century Salesian youth-education tradition.

Patronages
Salesians of Don Bosco (Society of St. Francis de Sales)Catholic youth-education traditionTurin and the Piedmontese Catholic tradition
All SaintsBack to Home