Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools,
Patron of Christian Teachers
John Baptist de La Salle was born into a world very different from our own. He
was the first son of wealthy parents living in France over 300 years ago. Born
at Reims, John Baptist de La Salle received the tonsure at age eleven and was
named Canon of the Reims Cathedral at sixteen. Though he had to assume the
administration of family affairs after his parents died, he completed his
theological studies and was ordained a priest on April 9, 1678.Two years later
he received a doctorate in theology. Meanwhile he became tentatively involved
with a group of rough and barely literate young men in order to establish
schools for poor boys.
At that time a few people lived in luxury, but most of the people were
extremely poor: peasants in the country, and slum dwellers in the towns. Only, a
few could send their children to school; most children had little hope for the
future. Moved by the plight of the poor who seemed so "far from salvation"
either in this world or the next, he determined to put his own talents and
advanced education at the service of the children "often left to themselves and
badly brought up." To be more effective, he abandoned his family home, moved in
with the teachers, renounced his position as Canon and his wealth, and so formed
the community that became known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
His enterprise met opposition from the ecclesiastical authorities who resisted
the creation of a new form of religious life, a community of consecrated laymen
to conduct gratuitous schools "together and by association." The educational
establishment resented his innovative methods and his insistence on gratuity for
all, regardless of whether they could afford to pay. Nevertheless De La Salle
and his Brothers succeeded in creating a network of quality schools throughout
France that featured instruction in the vernacular, students grouped according
to ability and achievement, integration of religious instruction with secular
subjects, well-prepared teachers with a sense of vocation and mission, and the
involvement of parents. In addition, De La Salle pioneered in programs for
training lay teachers, Sunday courses for working young men, and one of the
first institutions in France for the care of delinquents. Worn out by
austerities and exhausting labors,
he died at Saint Yon near Rouen early in 1719 on Good Friday, only weeks
before his sixty-eighth birthday.
John Baptist de La Salle was a pioneer in founding training colleges for teachers, reform schools for delinquents, technical schools, and secondary schools for modern languages, arts, and sciences. His work quickly spread through France and, after his death, continued to spread across the globe. In 1900 John Baptist de La Salle was declared a Saint. In 1950, because of his life and inspirational writings, he was made Patron Saint of all those who work in the field of education. John Baptist de La Salle inspired others how to teach and care for young people, how to meet failure and frailty with compassion, how to affirm, strengthen and heal. At the present time there are De La Salle schools in 83 different countries around the globe.
Born at Reims, France April 30, 1651
Ordained priest April 9, 1678
Died April 7, 1719
Beatified February 19, 1888
Canonized May 24, 1900
Proclaimed Patron of Christian Teachers May 15, 1950
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