On 5th December, we celebrate Philip Rinaldi. He was five years old when he Don Bosco in 1856. In 1922, he became the third person to follow him as Rector Major of the Salesians.

A quiet, self-effacing man, he led the continued growth of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and laid the foundations of the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB), the the Secular Institute of the Salesians, which celebrates its centenary on 17th May 2017. The VDB is a branch of Consecrated life, whose mmbers live out their vows in their working lives in the world, guided by the Salesian charism.

Blessed Philip died in Turin on 5th December 1931, and was beatified in 1990.

'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

Read more about his life