Michele Rua, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Michele Rua

Italian Salesian priest

Date of Birth: 09-Jun-1837

Place of Birth: Turin, Piedmont, Italy

Date of Death: 06-Apr-1910

Profession: Catholic priest, educator

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Blessed Michele Rua (English: Michael Rua; 9 June 1837 – 6 April 1910) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and professed member of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
Rua was a student under Saint Giovanni Bosco and was also the latter's first collaborator in the order's founding as well as one of his closest friends.
He served as the first Rector Major of the Salesians following Bosco's death in 1888.
He was responsible for the expansion of the Salesians and the order had grown to a significant degree around the world at the time he died.
Rua served as a noted spiritual director and leader for the Salesians known for his austerities and rigid adherence to the rule.
It was for this reason that he was nicknamed, 'the living rule'. The process of Rua's beatification opened after his death and culminated as Pope Paul VI beatified Rua in 1972.