Michael Rua
Italian Salesian priest (1837–1910)
Feast: 6 April (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Michele Rua was born in Turin on 9 June 1837 in the working quarter of Borgo Dora, where his father worked at the arsenal; within a few years his mother was left alone with two sons. He went to school with the Brothers of the Christian Schools and then to Don Bosco.
Ordained on 28 July 1860, he became St John Bosco's first successor as Rector Major of the Salesians. He died in the night of 5–6 April 1910.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
Don Bosco's faithful disciple who carried on his work for poor youth.
Connected on this site
- John Bosco Saint“Ordained on 28 July 1860, he became St John Bosco's first successor as Rector Major of the Salesians.” — this site's research
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Michele Rua
- Wikidata Q1351154 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Michele Rua (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.