Aldo Giraudo – Fr Paul Albera. Master of Spiritual Life

In Paul Albera (1845-1921) we have a man who was personally formed by Don Bosco, and one of those responsible for the handing on of his spirit and mission. This book, “Father Paul Albera: Master of Spiritual Life” admirably gives us an insight into the personality and contribution of this second successor of Don Bosco. Albera has somehow remained in the shade up to now, but in the centenary of his death he is emerging into his own as a figure that is at once attractive and remarkable.

This Salesian of the first times – youngest signatory of the list of the first members of 1860, pioneer of Mirabello under the leadership of Michele Rua – reveals a marked spirit of enterprise and an enviable ability to win hearts as founder of the Salesian work in Genoa and in France, along with a surprising tenacity of character that is revealed, for example, in the gruelling three year long voyage in America as representative of Don Rua.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• First part – LIFE (1845-1921)
  • Chapter 1: THE FORMATIVE YEARS (1845-1868)
  • Chapter 2: PREFECT OF VALDOCCO AND DIRECTOR OF GENOA (1868-1881)
  • Chapter 3: PROVINCIAL OF THE SALESIAN HOUSES IN FRANCE (1881-1892)
  • Chapter 4: SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR OF THE SALESIAN CONGREGATION
  • Chapter 5: VISIT TO THE SALESIAN HOUSES IN AMERICA (1900-1903)
  • Chapter 6: ALONGSIDE FATHER RUA FROM 1903 TO 1910
  • Chapter 7: THE FIRST YEARS AS RECTOR MAJOR (1910-1913)
  • Chapter 8: THE DRAMA OF WAR (1914-1918)
  • Chapter 9: TOWARDS A PEACEFUL END (1919-1921)
• Second part – CONTRIBUTION TO SALESIAN SPIRITUALITY

1. 1. The magisterium of life
   2. Spirit of prayer
   3. Life of faith
   4. Don Bosco a model for Salesians
   5. The virtues of the Salesian

• Third part – SELECTED TEXTS

1. 1. The spirit of prayer
   2. At Don Bosco’s school
   3. Living by Faith
   4. The oratory is the soul of our Pious Society
   5. Let us all be missionaries!
   6. Our Lady and Don Bosco
   7. Salesian gentleness
   8. To bring Don Bosco to life in ourselves
   9. Being worthy of our father Don Bosco
   10. Don Bosco our model
   11. Let us throw ourselves into God’s arms
   12. How Don Bosco loved us
   13. The knowledge necessary for the Salesian priest
   14. Growth in one’s spiritual life
   15. Vocations and Salesian spirit
   16. Sowers of vocations

Reference time period: 1845 – 1921

Reference institution:
Centro Studi Don Bosco