(ANS – Rome) – In these days the book “Don Michele Rua nella storia” which is the 27th published by LAS in the series “Studi”, edited by the Salesian Historical Institute has appeared. In Italian, it is edited by Prof. Francesco Motto and brings together the many contributions which were presented in the course of the International Congress on Don Rua held at the Salesianum in Rome in October 2010, at the conclusion of the events for the centenary of his death.

Throughout its 850 pages the book presents the moral and spiritual profile of Don Rua, his long collaboration with Don Bosco and his profound sharing in his spirit, his own initiatives and the criteria for his activities, his far-sighted courage, his method of government and his practice as spiritual-educational animator of the two religious Congregations to which, as Rector Major, he brought an impressive International development. What emerges is a fully-rounded account of his personality with some particular new features, locating him not only in the history of the Salesian Family (in relation to the Salesians, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Cooperators) but also in the national and international context in which he lived and the complex situations in which he worked.

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Unity of Italy it is also of  significance to present an Italian personality such as Blessed Michael Rua, who, if he did not “make Italy”, “made the Italians”, both at home and abroad, as he maintained and developed the special historical-pedagogical-spiritual heritage of Don Bosco, which after a century is still alive and active and from many points of view uptodate.

The new book joins another in the series  “Studi” of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS) - “Don Michele Rua primo successore di Don Bosco. Tratti di personalità, governo e opere (1888-1910)”, edited by Sr. G. Loparco and Fr Stanislaw Zimniak, (ACSSA – Studi, 4, Roma, Las 2010) which brings together the Acts of the V International Salesian Historical Congress  held in Turin in October  2009 at the opening of the year dedicated to Don Rua.

Published 03/10/2011