05 December - Philippe Rinaldi was born on 28 May 1856 in Lu Monferrato, in the province of Alexandria, in the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. A pious child, raised among the Salesians in Piedmont, Philippe Rinaldi met John Bosco, who awakened him to his vocation.

After overcoming psychological difficulties, he became a novice at the age of twenty and then a priest. He first lived in the shadow of John Bosco. In 1889, he was sent to Spain, where he developed the Salesian foundations. Upon his return to Italy, Philip Rinaldi took on great responsibilities, while maintaining an apostolate in the field, especially in confessions. A good connoisseur of the feminine soul, he supported the foundation of the secular institute of the zealous women of Mary Help of Christians, later known as the Volunteers of Don Bosco.

Philippe Rinaldi's great desire was to implement and transmit Salesian pedagogy. In 1922 he became Rector Major of the Congregation. He gave it a strong impetus, in particular by sending many Salesians to the missions. He died on December 5, 1931 in Turin at the age of 75. Philippe Rinaldi was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 29, 1990.