|
 Born
in Reims, France, in 1651, to a wealthy family, John Baptist de La Salle
followed steps that usually led to ecclesiastical security and distinction,
steps that included his education at home, at the College des Bons-Enfants,
and his studies for the priesthood at the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris.
He became a Canon of the Cathedral of Reims at the age of 15. Even with the
death of his parents in 1671 and the necessity to return home to care for
his brothers and sisters, he continued his studies for the priesthood in
Reims which he completed in 1678 with a licentiate in theology. He was
ordained to the priesthood on April 9 of the same year, and in 1680 he was
awarded the degree of Doctor of Theology from the University of Reims.
The death
of his spiritual director and fellow canon, Nicholas Roland, left De La
Salle with the task of caring for the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus who
were founded by Roland. It was in this capacity that he met Adrien Nyel
from Rouen who had come to Reims to begin schools for poor boys. This
encounter led him to advise and help establish the school Nyel had in mind,
and eventually he took over the direction of the untrained schoolmasters
when Nyel withdrew from the endeavor. Little by little he transformed this
ragtag group by inviting them to eat their meals with him, by inviting them
to move into his home and, in time, by moving into a house with them.
Recognizing the need for order and structure for this group of
schoolmasters, De La Salle created a schedule for prayer, meals, teaching,
and work for them, which he himself followed. The Christian Brothers hold
1680 as the year of their origin, the time when de La Salle transformed the
schoolmasters into a community. He resigned his canonry in 1683 and later
distributed most of his personal wealth to the poor during widespread famine
in the winters of 1683-84. Later the “Brothers” began to wear a
distinctive habit, pronounce yearly vows, develop a rule, and elect a
superior.
The
original schools in Reims flourished, and spread to Paris in 1688. More
schools were opened later in large and small cities throughout France.
Reasons for the success and growing reputation of these schools
 were
the innovations that de La Salle introduced. He insisted on giving a
Christian and human education that would make students good children of God
and educated, productive citizens of the state. Classes were conducted in
the vernacular, instruction was simultaneous, age appropriate and
gratuitous. Structure, system and order were the keynotes of the Christian
Schools. The successful techniques acquired over the years were collected
into the pedagogical classic, The Conduct of Schools. De La Salle
also wrote his own text books for use in the schools. (Click the “Writings”
button to view De La Salle’s writings.)
In spite
of defections, betrayals, deaths of prominent Brothers, lawsuits, conflicts
with clergy, the Christian Schools prospered. Toward the end of his life,
De La Salle withdrew from his position of superior letting this fledgling
community govern itself. Troubled by ill health during the last part of his
life, he died on Good Friday, April 7, 1719, in Rouen with the St. Yon
community of Brothers at his bedside. His final words were, “I adore in all
things the guidance of God in my regard.” At his death there were 27 houses
with 271 Brothers and 9000 students throughout France.
John
Baptist de La Salle was declared venerable by the Church in 1840 and was
beatified in 1888. Pope Leo XIII canonized De La Salle on May 24, 1900.
Pope Pius XII proclaimed him “Patron of All Teachers.” Today the Institute
founded by De La Salle numbers over 7000 Brothers who minister with over
60,000 lay colleagues and teach over 775,000 students in 79 countries.
Suggested Readings
Salm, Brother Luke. The Work is Yours –
The Life of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. Romeoville, IL: Christian Brothers
Publications, 1989. (This is a highly readable history of St. La Salle)
Koch, Karl, Jeffrey Calligan, Jeffrey Gros.
John Baptist de La Salle -- The Spirituality
of Christian Education. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2004.
Maillefer, Dom Francois-Elie and Brother
Bernard. John Baptist de La Salle – Two Early Biographies.
Romeoville, IL: Christian Brothers Publications, 1996. (These early
histories are the oldest extant lives of the saint.)
Burkhard, Brother Leo C.
Beyond the
Boundaries. Lafayette, LA: New Orleans-Santa Fe
Province, 1994. (This is a fictionalized account of the saint’s life.)
Koch, Carl. Praying with John Baptist de
La Salle. Winona, MN: St. Mary’s Press, 1990. (One of the “Companions
for the Journey” series, this work offers meditations based on the life and
works of St. John Baptist de La Salle.
|
