CELEBRATING THE VOCATION OF THE

BRO. JOSEPH ROSSI

THE FIRST SALESIAN BROTHER
SALESIAN BROTHER: 3
Joseph Rossi first met Don Bosco in 1859 at the age of 24. After
having read the Companion of Youth, Joseph Rossi eagerly sought
to meet its author and this great desire became a reality on
October 20th 1859. He explains his meeting with Don Bosco in
these words: “When I met Don Bosco for the first time his
amiability and fatherliness impressed me deeply. He received me
with such affection that from that instant I cherished a great love
for him.”

The superior chapter of the Salesian Congregation on February

2nd 1860 met to discuss the admission of this young man into the
Society. Joseph Rossi obtained all votes and was admitted into the
Salesian Congregation as a lay member, the first Salesian Brother.

Don Bosco like a patient teacher instructed him in the affairs of

the house and gradually taught him to tackle the difficult
problems of the Oratory. Don Bosco put him in charge of the linen
room, by no means an easy job. He had also to look after the room
of Don Bosco and Rossi did this work with utmost care. Later on
when Don Bosco decided to put lay brothers to assist in the
workshops, he immediately entrusted one to Rossi who left no
stone unturned to see that the boys learned their trade well and
grew up as good Christians. Don Bosco often sent him on errands
to the city and he realised that Rossi would be a good
administrator. When the number of boys at the Oratory increased
Don Bosco needed a prudent dispenser and he found one in the
person of Bro. Rossi. Rossi was put in charge of the storeroom
from which things were to be given to the workshops and also
new things had to be bought. Don Bosco showed greater
confidence in Rossi by entrusting him with some business matters
involving large sums of money.

Rossi undertook numerous journeys both in and outside Italy in

the interest of the Congregation. He had to accomplish important
missions of a very secret nature and which were in most cases
known only to Don Bosco or Don Rua and himself.

Bro. Rossi lived a life of dedicated piety, poverty, and obedience.

To ensure that he maintained his vow of poverty during trips, Bro.
Rossi never treated himself to anything that was not available at
the Oratory.  Rossi was unswervingly faithful to the practices of
piety. On one occasion when he arrived at the Oratory late, he
first went straight to the church to receive Holy Communion.
After it he had just a cup of coffee and again returned to the
church to make his meditation.

MARCH 2020
Don Bosco treated him with great familiarity though with great respect and
would at times address him as “Count.” In the general chapter of 1877 which
was held at Lanzo, Don Bosco called Rossi from Turin for the meeting in which
the economical problems of the society were discussed. Likewise in the fourth
general chapter held at Valsalice in 1886, Don Bosco called Rossi to the session
in which the discipline of the professional schools was being discussed.

With all such privileges bestowed on him by Don Bosco, Rossi never sought any
exception whatsoever in obedience. Certainly he too had his defects but it is
beyond all doubt that he practiced obedience in a very exemplary manner. He
had acquired this by constant effort and even when advanced in years he
would approach his superiors with a spirit of humility when he needed a favour
of any kind.

In the last missionary dream which Don Bosco had in Barcelona on April 10th,
1886, Rossi was one of the main personages. Don Bosco saw a vast meadow
with Rossi on one side and Don Rua on the other. Rossi appeared very serious
and buried in thought and even when Don Bosco called him he answered only
with a look; Don Rua too appeared quite preoccupied and was sitting down as if
resting. Don Bosco called them both but they made a sign to show that they
heard him but did not speak. Speaking of the parts played by Don Rua, Don
Bosco’s vicar and Br. Rossi, the general dispenser of the Oratory, Don Lemoyne
said, “Don Rua was preoccupied with the spiritual side of the Oratory and Br.
Rossi was preoccupied with the material side.”

Both Don Rua and Bro. Rossi were always united and worked with all their
strength to help Don Bosco in the interest of the Congregation. Don Rua was
Rossi’s immediate superior and gave him instructions as to how he should
execute the orders of Don Bosco and for the twenty years that Rossi lived after
the death of Don Bosco, he showed the same affection, fidelity and submission
to Don Rua. Like Don Bosco, Don Rua held him in great esteem and entrusted
him with many important affairs.

Like many early Salesians, Rossi too had seen the wonders worked by Don
Bosco and he could not hold a conversation in which he did not mention his
words or works. In fact Don Lemoyne inserted in the biographical memoirs of
Don Bosco many particulars that he had heard from Rossi and if it was not for
him we would never had known certain details that we find there.

When Bro. Rossi could no longer work due to failing health and advanced age,
he completely dedicated his time to prayer. It was a rare thing in those days for
the confreres not to see Rossi absorbed in prayer or meditation when they
entered the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians.
His death was quite a sudden one. On October 28, 1908, he passed away after
suffering a stroke. He left a shining example of perseverance despite all
difficulties to the young confreres who were with him and those who were to
follow him.