austraLasia
RUA: OCTOBER 29TH, PREPARE FOR THE FEAST!
ROME: 25th October -- Each year the major Salesian feasts have a habit of sneaking up on us. How well-prepared is the community for the Feast of Blessed Michael Rua? At least 28 Provinces world-wide owe their foundation to his leadership, and many communities since his time have been named for him. The Salesian Community of the General House at the Pisana, Rome, is one such community (1970).
'austraLasia' has a simple offering this time around, assuming that those who receive this news bulletin are most likely equipped to delve, albeit briefly, into the world wide web. The readings on Blessed Michael Rua, in English at least, are short but enlightening.
Begin with the Web portal at www.sdb.org and simply run a search on RUA. You will be confronted with 72 possibilities! Of these, the first three will be most helpful. If you search similarly on www.bosconet.aust.com you will elicit 12 references. The first, 'holiness', offers a pictorial representation of all the Salesian candidates for the honours of the altar and may be a useful item for the community noticeboard in the lead-up to the 29th October. But take a look also at the 'Confidential Memento to Rectors' and note the origins of this document - it was, in the first instance, a private letter to a very young and inexperienced Michael Rua, ordained at 22 and appointed Rector of Mirabello at 26!
www.salesianmissions.org/salesians/st/rua.htm , a contribution from New Rochelle, offers possibly the most extensive, readable (i.e. not too long, as is appropriate for the web) life of Don Rua - enough to provide a 'Good Night' or homily material for the Feast. A shorter version can be found at www.salesians.org.uk/html/blessed_michael_rua.html courtesy of the UK. There is even the briefest of mentions (to the fact that Bl. Michael Rua's body is held in the crypt) in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians website in Turin.
Community libraries may hold at least one printed title in English - Wine In The Chalice, by Peter Lappin (USA, recently deceased) or even a Pamphlet version of the life of Don Rua by Fr. Jack Ayers (Australia).
Of course, for 'surfers' there are true delights available, most of them heading in directions somewhat oblique to religion! RUA is a word that exists in many languages: the Irish will literally see 'red', but one notes that there is also an Irish music group by that name, as there is, also, in Napoli (Rudimenti di Urti Amonici). New Zealand Maoris and other Pacificans will also feel at home with RUA, which can variously indicate a tribe around the Bay of Plenty, or simply the number 'two' elsewhere in the austronesian region. Spaniards and Brasilians are at home with RUA as a street or at least an arched entrance to a town. RUA is a lighthouse in Scotland, a beach resort in Petchburi, Thailand and an umpires' association in Australia (Riverina Umpires Association, no less) and a Rugby wingman.
But for us, in case you think this article has entirely lost the plot, RUA is Don Bosco's immediate successor, one known as 'the living Rule', and someone to be warmly celebrated in a few day's time. If communities prepare their liturgies and keep a digital copy, could a copy please be sent to 'austraLasia' or Bosconet for next year? There's nothing like long-term preparation!
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'austraLasia' is an email news service for
the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific.
'austraLasia' is an email news service for
the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific.
