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SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE Born at Reims, France on April 30, 1651 |
SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE (1651-1719)Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, John Baptist de La Salle was the first son of wealthy parents living in France over 300 years ago. Born at Reims, De La Salle received the tonsure at age 11 and was named Canon of the Reims Cathedral at 16. 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 that taught in schools which they established for boys who were children of artisans or who belonged to economically poor families. To ensure the successful establish-ment of the Christian schools, De La Salle left his family home, moved in with the teachers, renounced his position as Canon and his wealth, and formed the community of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. This move guaranteed the continuance of the Christian schools. The members of this community called themselves Brother: Brothers to each other and older Brothers to the young people in their care His enterprise met opposition from the ecclesiastical authorities who resisted the creation of a new form of religious life—a community of consecrated laymen who conducted 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 or not. 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 on April 7, 1719, only weeks before his 68th 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 over 1,000 De La Salle schools in 80 different countries around the globe.
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