April 7
Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Priest, Founder
“Father of Modern Education”
(1651-1719)
“How long has Jesus been knocking at the door of your heart, waiting to enter?”
Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Saint’s Life Story
His Early Life
John was born to a wealthy family at Rheims, France on April 30, 1651. He was the oldest child of ten of Louis de La Salle and Nicolle de Moet de Brouillet. John was well-educated, intelligent, attractive and genteel. He could have chosen any profession he desired.
At age 10, John was destined for the priesthood and tonsured the following year. John studied for the priesthood in Paris, France. Then, his mother died on July 19, 1671 and his father on April 9, 1672. So, after the death of his parents, John quit to care and educating his four brothers and two sisters.
Canon Before Ordained a Priest
When his siblings were grown, John returned to seminary. At the age of 16, in 1667, John was actually made a Canon of Rheims cathedral. This was well before he was ordained a priest on April 9, 1678, following his seminary training at Saint Sulpice in Paris, France. Two years later, John received a doctorate in theology
Initial Slow Start
Following his ordination to the priesthood at the age of 27, John was the chaplain and confessor of The Sisters of the Child Jesus, a new religious congregation whose work was the care of the sick and education of poor girls. There, he met Adrian Nyel, a layman who was opening a school in Rheims for poor boys in 1679. He found himself drawn more and more into the project. First, he rented a house for seven masters and fed them at his table. In 1681, he invited them to share his own home in order to instill in them the high educational ideals forming in his own mind. Two of his own brothers left soon after, then five of the school masters. The endeavor seemed about to fail.
Famine Strikes
Finally, John decided to devote himself to the mission. In 1683, he resigned his canonry. He liquidated his personal fortune (about $400,000) and donated it to the poor in the form of bread during the great famine of 1683-1684 in Champagne.
Founder Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
Now, freed of other obligations, John dedicated himself to the education of the poor. After a false start, he realized that the first problem was the provision of teachers. So, John himself began to train laymen as teachers. John kept enough to endow a salary for himself similar to that which the Brothers received so he wouldn’t be a burden on them.
In 1685 in Rheims, John established the first teachers’ colleges because parish priests continually sent him young men to train as teachers before returning to schools in their own villages.
In 1688, he took over a free school in Paris and started teacher training colleges in Rheims (1687), Paris (1699), and Saint-Denis (1709), and established a junior novitiate in 1685 for boys aged 15 to 20. In Paris he also introduced Sunday-schools. In 1700, the brothers opened a school in Rome. By that point, they had opened schools in Avignon, Calais, Languedoc, Provence, Rouen, and Dijon.
In 1695, when John drew up the rule, he began a new religious institute, the first one with no priests whatsoever among its members: the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as De La Salle Brothers. The new order he founded did not actually receive papal approval until 1725. This work went on simultaneously with opening schools.
Education Changes
As an educator, John instituted the process of dividing students into grades. John believed that to teach the poor in Latin (as was the custom) was absurd. So, John taught to write and read their own language, and gave them religious and vocational training. He also started high schools and trade schools.
His Death
Although John suffered from asthma and rheumatism, he would give up none of his habitual austerities. On Good Friday, April 7, 1719, at the age of 67, John died in Saint-Yon, Rouen, France. After his death, he was buried in Rouen, France. In 1937, his relics were translated in the chapel at the Christian Brothers Curia in Rome, Italy.
John’s remarkable contributions to education and his unyielding commitment to serving the poor and marginalized have left an enduring legacy.
As of December 2023, the De La Salle Brothers had 2,883 Brothers, who helped run 1,154 education centers in 78 countries with 1,160,328 students, together with 107,827 teachers and lay associates.
Born: April 30, 1651 in Rheims, France
Died: April 7, 1719 age 67 in Rouen, France
Beatified: February 19, 1888 by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized: May 24, 1900 by Pope Leo XII
Feast Day: April 7
Patron Saint: Abuse Victims; Brothers of the Christian Schools; Educators; Principals; Teachers
Reflection
Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s life, like yours and mine, could have turned in many different directions. His mother was a relative of Claude Moët, the founder of the well known champagne and successful winery business. He grew up in a wealthy family. However, at the age of 11, he was tonsured, demonstrating his intention to serve God and give up his wealth. Then, at 21 years old, Saint John received his masters degree. But with the death of his parents, he took on the responsibility of caring his younger brother and sisters. Five years later, he received his doctorate in Theology and could have taken a scholarly route. Instead, he gave away $400,000 to help others during a famine. He went on to found a new order, De La Salle Brothers, the first one with no priests. Devoted to the education of poor boys, he started a school to teach the teachers. His life was a constant “yes” to God’s calling every unique step during his walk of life.
Are you open to the plan God has for your life? Do you trust God to generously respond to that plan he has for you, just as Saint John Baptist de La Salle did in his life?
Prayers
Saint John Baptist de La Salle,
You chose to give young people a Christian education and are the patron of teachers guiding the young.
We pray for your intercession to raise up teachers who are filled with love and wisdom, so that they may dedicate their lives to the formation of young minds and hearts.
Following your example, grant that we may always seek to touch the hearts of those we encounter, teaching and inspiring them to walk in Jesus’ footsteps loving all.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us! Amen.
Saint Links
All Saints & Martyrs – Saint John Baptist de la Salle – Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
America Needs Fatima – Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle
AnaStpaul – Saint of the Day – 15 May – St John Baptiste de la Salle (1651-1719) Confessor. Known as the “Father of Modern Education.”
Catholic Exchange – St. John Baptist de La Salle
Catholic Insight – Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Chooses the Less Comfortable Path
Catholic Ireland – Apr 7 – St John Baptist de la Salle (1651-1719)
Catholic News Agency – St. John Baptist de la Salle Feast day: Apr 07
Catholic Online – St. John Baptist de la Salle
CatholicSaints.Info – Saints of the Day – John-Baptist de la Salle, Priest – by Katherine I Rabenstein
Dynamic Catholic – Saint John Baptist de la Salle
Editions Magnificat – Saint John Joseph of the Cross Confessor, Priest, Franciscan Friar (1654-1734)
Franciscan Media – Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Heralds of the Gospel – St. John Baptist de La Salle – The Jordan of Grace
Independent Catholic News – St John Baptiste de la Salle
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
Loyola Press – Saint John Baptist de la Salle Feast day April 7
My Catholic Life – Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Priest
New Advent – Graham, M. (1910). St. John Baptist de la Salle. In The Catholic Encyclopedia
Newman Connection – Saint John Baptist de la Salle
Regnum Christi (Uncle Eddy) – St John Baptist de La Salle
Rev Butler’s Lives Of The Saints Complete Edition – Saint John Baptist de La Salle, Founder of The Brothers of Christian Schools
Saint Mary’s Press – Saint John Baptist de La Salle (1651-1719)
Saints Alive – St. John B de la Salle
Saints for Sinners – Saint John De La Salle
St. Peter’s Basilica – St. John Baptist de la Salle
The Saint Challenge – St. John Baptist de La Salle – April 7
The Saint of the Day – St. John Baptist de la Salle – May 15 – by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
The Story of Saint John Baptist de la Salle, by Brother Leo
uCatholic – Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Video Link
Cradio Saint of the Day: Saint John Baptist de La Salle – YouTube (CatholicSaints.Info)