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Fr. Paul Albera, ‘Le Petit Don Bosco
FR. PAUL ALBERA,
By Fr. Caesar Dizon, SDB
Editor’s Note: The Rector Major promulgated the year 2021 dedicated to the memory of Fr. Paolo Albera, commemorating the rst centenary of the death of the second successor of Don Bosco.
THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
In Salesian history, the rst encounter with Don Bosco of signi cant Salesian personalities is deemed important enough to be recorded for posterity. We only have to recall his encounter with Bartholomew Garelli, Michael Rua, Michael Magone, and Dominic Savio. This was the story of Don Bosco’s rst encounter with Paul Albera. In his own words:
Mass was celebrated, many received Holy Communion, and everybody rushed to the courtyard for breakfast. I thought I did not qualify for it, and stood aside waiting to rejoin them on their way back. Don Bosco spotted me.
What’s your name?”
“Paolino “
“Have you had breakfast?”
“No sir, I have not gone to confession or communion.”
“But confession and communion are not necessary to have breakfast.”
“What is necessary?”
“To have appetite.”
He led me to the basket and gave me lots of bread and fruit. I went down with him and played until dusk. From that moment, and for many years, I did not abandon the Oratory or dear Don Bosco, who did me so much good.
A FAVORITE SON OF DON BOSCO
Young Paolino w as a calm, smiling, and diligent boy. The memory of Dominic Savio, who had died the year before he came to Valdocco, encouraged the best boys to follow in his footsteps, including Paolino. He became a friend of Michael Magone, his neighbor in the dormitory. He excelled in school, but also stood out for his piety. One day in 1861, it was he whom Don Bosco chose to pose at his side for the historic photograph that pictures him as a penitent making his confession to Don Bosco.
We have to thank Fr. Ru no for the story behind that famous photograph. We read this entry in his eponymous chronicle: May 19 [1861]. Today, Pentecost Sunday, Francis Serra, an Oratory boy, took a daguerreotype of Don Bosco — rst alone, then in a group with [Louis] Jarach, [Rinaudo]
Costanza, [Alexander] Fabre, Bracco, and [Paul] Albera, and lastly with over 50 pupils around him. Two days later, he photographed him again in the act of hearing confessions.
The closest penitents were [Joseph] Reano, [Paul] Albera, and [Charles] Viale; many others stood in the background, preparing themselves. Don Bosco had consented only after
Serra’s endless entreaties. These photographs, however, were strictly for the Oratory, and Don Bosco forbade the making of other prints.
Don Bosco once wrote Fr. Albera: ‘My health has been deteriorating over some time but now, as I write to you, I feel perfectly healthy. I believe this may be the result of the great pleasure it gives me to be writing to you.’
Fr. Paul Albera, Provincial for the Salesian houses in France, was leaving. He came to say good-bye. Don Bosco, now old and sickly, looked at him a ectionately, with tears in his eyes.
“You’re going too. You’re all abandoning me. I know Bonetti will leave tonight. So will Rua. They are leaving me alone.”
Silent tears owed from his eyes. Nearing the end of his life, Don Bosco felt loneliness enveloping him. Fr. Albera let himself be overcome by emotion too. But Don Bosco composed himself: “I’m not scolding you, you know. You are doing your duty. But I’m a poor old man… I’ll pray for you, God be with you.”
On January 29, the doctors found Don Bosco near the end. One of them, perhaps in an e ort to encourage him, said: “Take heart, tomorrow things may improve...”
Don Bosco replied “Tomorrow?... Tomorrow?... I am going on a long journey...”
In the rst night hours he shouted: “Paolino, Paolino, where are you? Why don’t you come?” Fr. Paul Albera, who was in France as Provincial, had not arrived yet.
Don Bosco had favored sons. Paul Albera was one of them. But he did not cling to them. He allowed them independence. He sent them o to spread their wings. He sent John Cagliero to South America and Paul Albera to France.
And if Don Bosco loved Paolino very dearly, Paolino returned that love. The a ection was mutual.
Because Don Bosco had been in the Salesian house at Marseilles for almost two weeks, everyone felt that Don Bosco was now part of the house and that he would never again leave it. But then the painful truth came to light when they saw the preparations for his departure. A veil of sadness fell upon both Salesians and students.
Toward eleven o’clock, he blessed the Salesians who had gathered together in his room, and then he uttered these words as a souvenir, “Remember that you are all brothers.”
He blessed the youngsters as they knelt in the playground.
And Fr. Albera? He was crying like a child.
DON ALBERA IN THE DREAM OF WHEEL OF ETERNITY
Don Bosco shared this dream with the boys and Salesians of Valdocco:
Far o , black columns of smoke were rising to the sky. Some boys had gathered cockle and were burning it outside the eld. This symbolized those who would remove the bad from the good as directors of our future houses. Among them I saw Francis Cerruti, John Baptist Tamietti, Dominic Belmonte, and Paul Albera.
All the above scenes kept unfolding simultaneously. I saw some boys in that crowd hold lighted lanterns, though it was broad daylight. Evidently they were destined to be beacons, giving good example to other workers in the Lord’s vineyard. Among them was Paul Albera, who, besides carrying a lamp, also played the guitar. This means that not only will he guide priests, but he will also encourage them to persevere. It suggested, too, some high post in the Church.
HE IS MY SECOND
Philip Rinaldi, who was 22 at that time, had been invited and was sitting with other guests a little way from Don Bosco. With them was Bishop Ferre of Casale. The conversation turned to Father Albera and his initial problems with Archbishop Riccardi. The Archbishop had done his utmost to draw him away from Don Bosco after high school and join the diocese. Bishop Ferrre asked whether Father Albera had won out. “Certainly!” Don Bosco replied. “He is my second....” Abruptly he
brushed his hand over his forehead as if trying to arrange his thoughts. None of the guests at the table noticed the signi cance of his words nor of his gesture. But Philip Rinaldi began to wonder: “Fr. Albera was not the second person to enter the Congregation, nor was he second in position or even a member of the superior chapter, and he was not the Congregation’s second director. Could Don Bosco mean that he would be second in the line of succession?”
Thirty-three years later, and Fr. Rinaldi was prefect general. On February 27, 1910, realizing that Fr. Rua’s condition had become critical, he wrote his never-revealed secret on a sheet of paper and sealed it in an envelope. On it he wrote: “To be opened after the election held after our beloved Fr. Rua’s death. Philip Rinaldi.” He gave the envelope to Fr. Lemoyne, secretary of the superior chapter, without a word about its contents.
When Fr. Rua died, many confreres had expected Fr. Philip Rinaldi to be chosen to succeed him. But Fr. Rinaldi himself had no such expectations (or worries)—and we know why. When Don Rua’s successor had been elected, Fr. Rinaldi went to the Fr. Lemoyne’s o ce, broke open the envelope and read what he had written to everyone who was present. “Fr. Albera…will be my second.” 22 Salesians to publicly profess their vows on May 14, 1862. He was ordained a priest in 1868 (delayed due to the persistent opposition of Archbishop Riccardi).
In 1881, Don Bosco sent him as Provincial to France, where the people a ectionately called him le petit Don Bosco. In 1892, he returned to Turin to take up the role of “Catechist General” – in charge of formation. He conducted extraordinary visitations as Fr. Rua’s extraordinary representative to the provinces of France, Spain (5 months!), Belgium and then to South America from 1900 to 1903. In 1905, he accompanied Fr. Rua on his trip to the Holy Land. He was elected to succeed Fr. Rua as Rector Major of the Congregation in 1910, and remained in o ce until his death on October 29, 1921
RECTOR MAJOR (1910-1921)
As Rector Major, he dedicated himself to the spiritual formation of the members of the Salesian Society. And given his familiarity with many spiritual writers, particularly Saint Francis de Sales, Fr. Albera wrote circular letters that may be likened to mini treatises.
It was his wish that our educational work go beyond our schools and training centers. He brought together Congresses of Past Pupils and Cooperators for the purpose of forging fraternal
Looking back at his election as Rector Major Don Albera wrote : “I remember now how it was now the memorable morning of August 16, 1910, when I saw myself, unworthy as I was, raised to such a sublime o ce, such a grave responsibility. I remember the emotion, or rather the consternation felt at the time; the anxieties, the fears, the tears shed that day at the tomb of D. Bosco, the ardent prayers that I addressed to this good Father of ours so that he might come to my aid; and how, in the end, I induced myself to accept the charge, albeit with great repugnance, and only so as not to contradict the divine appointment... Then, all the marvels that God was pleased to work over these years, making use of my poor person, parade before my memory.”
THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF THE SALESIAN CONGREGATION
Under Mary’s guidance, Don Bosco set about the task of founding a religious congregation. His own boys were the best material: little Michael Rua, who idolized him; tough John Cagliero; hardworking John Francesia; self-willed Paul Albera, and several others. They would be the pioneers in this experiment of a new kind of religious congregation.
Following the founding meeting of the Salesian Society (December 18, 1859), new members were admitted to the Society. Among them was the fteen-year-old Paul Albera. (He had entered the Oratory in the fall of 1858.) He donned the clerical habit in 1861. He was among the rst group of bonds which would augment the fruits of the education received and which would facilitate mutual assistance; of di using the Christian spirit throughout family, society, and especially amongst young people; and nally, of promoting and put in place initiatives aimed at supporting the many works of assistance that have come into existence in the name of Don Bosco.
His greatest trial, however, was the First World War (19141918). A direct consequence of this tragic event was the impossibility of holding a General Chapter during this time. Fr. Albera recommended to those in charge to assist confreres in the military both morally and materially. He insisted on maintaining the existing works, and intervened personally on behalf of refugees and war orphans. He wrote a monthly circular letter to Salesians who were called to arms. And over and above that, he and the members of the Superior Chapter answered letters written by the confreres holed up in the trenches.
HIS DEATH
Exhausted by his many journeys as Rector Major in visiting the houses and strengthening the confreres and Salesian Cooperators, Fr. Albera passed the last years of his life in precarious health.
After writing the beautiful letter announcing the “Salesian” year (3rd centenary of the death of St. Francis de Sales), Fr. Paul Albera passed away on October 29, 1921, leaving the celebration of the jubilee year he had promulgated up to his successor, Fr. Philip Rinaldi.
After his death, he was interred at Valsalice, alongside Don Bosco and Father Rua.
