RUA, MICHELE. - Salesian, first successor of s. Giovanni Bosco, b. at Torino on 9 June 1837, d. there on 6 Apr. 1910.
Having met d. Bosco in 1845, he began attending the oratory directed by him in 1847 and devoted himself entirely to him in 1855, thus becoming the first Salesian of the future society. Ordained a priest in 1860, he immediately received important responsibilities, which he was able to discharge to the satisfaction of all who knew him: director of the schools and of the oratory at Vanchiglia and of the first College at Torino, prefect of the Salesian Society, first visitor of the houses; in 1884 vicar general, and in 1888 successor of d. Bosco in the government of the Congregation.
He wished to be like him in every respect and made it his program to sustain and develop the works begun by the founder, faithfully to follow the methods taught by him, and to imitate him as a model. Under his vigilant and paternal guidance, the Society grew greatly and developed extensively, not only in Europe but also in distant missions. Such was the widespread reputation for sanctity that he enjoyed among all that, on 15 Jan. 1936, the cause of his beatification was introduced (AAS 28 [1936], pp. 237-40).