⛪ Blessed Philip Rinaldi - Priest

⛪ Saint of the Day : 05 December

⛪ Other names:

Filippo Rinaldi
Philippi Rinaldi

Philip Rinaldi was born in Lu Monferrato in the province of Alessandria, May 28 1856. He was the eighth of nine children, his temperament in youth was not what one might expect from a proper saint, but the celebrated saint of young people was able to see him in a good cloth to make a good teacher. Philip knew Don Bosco in his native country at an early age, they met during one of the many walks that the holy priest did with his young. Ten years later his father enrolled him at the College of Mirabello, and left of his own will for a few months later. Don Bosco wrote, attempting to persuade him to return, but Philip was obstinate. In 1874, Don Bosco went personally to Lu to convince the young Philip to return to Turin, but unfortunately without success. Only three years later did Don Bosco finally manage to persuade him and win his heart and, at the age of twenty years, Rinaldi undertaken Sampierdarena the way for adult vocations.

In 1880, after the novitiate, in the hands of the Don Bosco, he made his perpetual vows. Thanks to the holy insistence of Don Bosco, in December 1882, Philip answered the Lord’s call and received priestly ordination. Shortly after, the founding saint named him a director of Mathi, a college for adult vocations, which then was transferred to Turin. A few days after the death of Don Bosco, Don Rinaldi wanted to confess that he and those before perform now without forces, said only one word: “Meditation”.

In 1889 Don Michael Rua, the first successor of Don Bosco, appointed him director in Sarria, near Barcelona in Spain, saying: “You must do things very delicately.” In three years, with prayer, gentleness and a paternal presence and animator among young people in the community and Salesian risollevò the work. He was then appointed Inspector of Spain and Portugal, contributing to the development of the Salesian Family on Spanish soil. In just nine years, partly because economic data from the venerable Dorothy Chopitea, noblewoman, Don Rinaldi founded sixteen new homes. Don Rua visited and was impressed, then appointed him Prefect of the Congregation general. In his new position, Don Rinaldi continued to work with zeal, never giving up his priestly ministry. He carried out his task of government with prudence, charity and intelligence.

Bl. Philip Rinaldi praying beside the
remains of  Saint John Bosco

After the death of Blessed Don Rua, in 1910 Philip Rinaldi was re-elected prefect and the Vicar of Don Albera, new Rector Major. In 1921 he was elected the third successor of Don Bosco, whose spirit had to adapt to new times, a role that showed more of his talents father and his wealth of initiatives: care of vocations, training centers of spiritual and social assistance for young workers, guidance and support for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in a particular time in their history. He gave great impetus to the Salesian Cooperators, founded the World Federations of former students and former students. Working among Zelatrici of Mary Help of Christians, saw and traveled a path that led to a new form of consecrated life in the world, which would then flourished at the centuries of “Volunteer of Don Bosco.”

The impetus he gave to the Salesian missions was enormous: missionaries founded institutes, journals and associations, and during his time as its rector, he traveled the whole world over milleottocento Salesians. He made numerous trips to Italy and Europe. From Pope Pius XI, he won the indulgence of work sanctified. He was a master of spiritual life, reviving the inner life of the Salesians, always showing absolute confidence in God and confidence in un illimitata Mary Help of Christians, with the title as the Mother of God is invoked by the Salesian Family. The great Salesian Don French said: “Don Rinaldi missing only the voice of Don Bosco.”

On December 5, 1931 in Turi,n Philip Rinaldi holy and quietly concluded his earthly life, intent to read the life of Don Rua. His canonization process began on November 5, 1947 and Don Rinaldi was declared “venerable” on January 3, 1987. Pope John Paul II beatified him on April 29, 1990 in the square outside the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, along with the young Pier Giorgio Frassati and Canon Joseph Allamano, founder of Missionari della Consolata. Even today, the mortal remains of Blessed Rinaldi rest in the crypt of the Basilica of Turin.

Prayers:
God the Father infinitely good, You have called the Blessed Philip Rinaldi, Third Successor of St. John Bosco, to take over the spirit and works: Get imitate the paternal goodness, enterprise apostolic the tireless efforts by the sanctified with God. Grant us that the grzie entrust to her intercession. For Christ our Lord. Amen.


or:

Father of infinite goodness, you shine in fact blessed Philip Rinaldi a model of evangelical life joyfully donated: grant us to imitate the enlightened initiative apostolic because, in fidelity to our daily work, bring to your project full of love. For our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who is God, and lives and reigns with you, the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

Source : Biography Provided By: Salesian Missions

Quote:
“What must you do to have life? Before all else, the first thing you have to do is pray for courage every day to carry the cross the Lord has assigned you. Then let each of you do your own work really well, the work proper to your state, as God wants it, and according to your condition.” - Blessed Philip Rinaldi

Relics:

Buried in the cemetery in Turin

Following the miraculous healing of Sister Mary Carla, he was re-interred in the Basilica of Mary Our Help, Turin

Related Post