Please read the 4 key events in the life of Saint John Baptist De La Salle. Identify the places,
significant events/people values learnings In your notes write them for our recitations next
Monday synchronous meeting. God Bless
St. John Baptist de La Salle
Take a glimpse at St. John Baptist de La Salle's
extraordinary journey and challenges as he devoted his
life to his advocacy of providing quality education for all.
Family
St. La Salle was born on April 30, 1651 to Nicole Moet and
Louise de la Salle, a city magistrate. He was the eldest
child of 5 brothers and 2 sisters. His grandmother
influenced him greatly (read him the lives of the Saints).
Vocation
He started his seminary years in 1670. As a seminarian he
taught catechism and became deeply concerned about the
situation of most families that could not afford to spend for
their children's education (secular or religious). In 1672,
the parents of De La Salle died, so he returned to Rheims
from Paris to take care of his brothers and sisters.
A heart for the needy
After much reflection and spiritual direction, he pursued
his desire to be a priest; he was ordained on April 9, 1678.
De La Salle continued to be concerned about the lack of
schools especially Christian -oriented schools, for the
working class and the poor. A very close friend of his, Fr.
Roland, was begging a congregation of Sisters to teach
girls of the working class. He asked De La Salle to help
him. Gradually, De La Salle was involved in helping Father
Roland found the Sisters of the Child Jesus. Together with
Adrien Nyel, they began to train a few men who could help
begin free schools for boys.
Although he was from a wealthy and aristocratic family, De
La Salle chose to live with his school masters who were at
first ill-mannered. Their zeal and perseverance to render
their noble apostolic work led to the founding of the
Brothers of Christian Schools (Fratres Scholarum
Christianarum) - June 24, 1680. When De La Salle had
distributed his material possessions and had given up his
canonry-a special and honored position in the church, he
exemplified to the Brothers the true meaning of being poor
and identified himself with the poor. As the Institute grew,
problems emerged. Brothers were either sick/dying or
were leaving due to disillusionment. Also, some parish
priests wanted to control the Brothers.
The Heroic Vow
The Writing Masters (a group of teachers who managed
schools for free) even accused De La Salle of allowing
some children who had enough financial resources to stay
in his free schools. One may expect that the existing
anxieties may prompt the founder to quit or give up the
schools; however, De La Salle together with two other
Brothers (Nicholas Vuyart & Gabriel Drollin) made the
Heroic Vow on November 21, 1691.
Before God, they made a solemn vow of association and
union to bring about and maintain the Society of the
Christian Schools, without withdrawing from this
obligation, even if only the three of them remained and
were obliged to beg for alms and live on bread and water
alone. In God's time and grace, many young men from all
economic strata joined De La Salle Brothers for the work
of Christian education. At the time of De La Salle it was
customary to have individual instruction of children
(usually only the wealthy ones).
De La Salle was one of the first educators in history to put
students into larger organized groups and have them
taught simultaneously by one teacher. Today this
simultaneous method of teaching is widely used. In De La
Salle's time, schools existed mostly for the wealthy and
the medium of instruction was Latin.
He thought that if schools were to exist for the working
class (who did not know Latin), the language of instruction
should be French, the common language. Since there
were very few teachers in his day, De La Salle placed
great emphasis on founding Teacher Training Schools.
Today, the Brothers place great emphasis on schools or
departments for the training of teachers. De La Salle was
also one of the first educators in history to have
established schools for young criminals convicted in civil
courts.
Hope for the hopeless
Today protectories for young delinquents go back in very
great measure to De La Salle who had protectory work as
one of his foremost priorities. Since there were few
schools for the vast majority of the population in France,
De La Salle did not only have to start schools mainly for
the children of the working class, but he had to train
teachers to write teacher training books, management
manuals for conducting the schools, textbooks and prayer
books for students, as well as spiritual books for the
Brothers. De La Salle originally had no idea of beginning
schools for Christian education for the working class. He
was gradually drawn into the work; he made himself poor
to be of service to them and relied on the Providence of
God to supply the basic material needs of the Brothers
and the schools. In the early hours of Good Friday, April 7,
1719 De La Salle died.
Patron of All Teachers
His last words to the Brothers were: "I adore the holy will
of God in my regard" - a summary of the life of Faith he
lived, believing and trusting in the care of God as he went
about his work of teaching poor children enthusiastically.
On May 24, 1900 the Catholic church recognized the deep
holiness of De La Salle when he was canonized. On May
15, 1950 the Church considered St. La Salle as a pioneer
in education and made him the Church's official patron of
all 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 79 different countries around the globe.
NOTES
Born:
April 30, 1651 (Reims, France)
Visit to maternal grandparents at countryside Brouillet:
1657
Formal Schooling at College des Bons Enfants in Reims:
1661
Tonsure:
1662 at Reims Cathedral
Move to Rue St. Marguerite:
1664
La Salle named a Canon of Reims Cathedral:
1667
La Salle enters the Seminary of Saint Sulpice in Paris and studies
at the Sorbonne University (Incarnations, Sacraments, the Trinity):
1670
Mother:
(July 19, 1671) [38] Nicolle Moët de Brouillet
Father:
(April 9, 1672) [47] Louis de La Salle
La Salle returns to school in Reims:
1673
La Salle ordained deacon (Chapel of the Archbishop of Reims):
1676
Obtained Licentiate in Theology (Uni of Reims)
January 26, 1678
Ordained a priest
April 9, 1678
Sold Rue St. Marguerite:
1682
Died:
April 7, 1719
Beatified:
February 19, 1888 by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized:
May 24, 1900 by Pope Leo XIII
Proclaimed Patron of teachers of youth:
May 15, 1950 by Pope Pius XII
A Brief tour of De La Salle’s Adventure 300 years ago:
RHEIMS
DEATH OF NICOLE MÖET
(1651-1691) A RISK TAKER
Mother of John Baptist de La Salle
APRIL 30, 1651
APRIL 10, 1672
BIRTH OF JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE
DEATH OF LOUIS DE LA SALLE
In Rheims (France) at the Hôtel de la
Father of John Baptist de La Salle
Cloche in La Ballesta Street
APRIL 27, 1672
OCTOBER 10, 1661
DE LA SALLE, GUARDIAN OF HIS SIBLINGS
DE LA SALLE, STUDENT
After the death of his parents, as the
Enters the "Bons Enfants" school -
firstborn of the De La Salle family, John
(“Bonorum Puerorum”)
Baptist is declared guardian of his brothers
MARCH 11, 1662
and sisters
DE LA SALLE, TONSURED
MARCH 21, 1676
Receives the Sacrament of Confirmation
DE LA SALLE, DEACON
and is tonsured in the episcopal residence
Ordained deacon in the episcopal palace
of Rheims
of Rheims
JANUARY 7, 1667
JANUARY 26, 1678
DE LA SALLE, CANON IN RHEIMS
DE LA SALLE, BA - BACHELOR OF ARTS -
Appointed Canon of Rheims cathedral
THEOLOGY
after the resignation of Pierre Dozet,
Finished Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theology
a priest related to the De La Salle family
at the University of Rheims
MARCH 17, 1668
APRIL 9, 1678
DE LA SALLE RECEIVES MINOR ORDERS
DE LA SALLE, ORDAINED A PRIEST
OCTOBER 18, 1670
by Archbishop Le Tellier of Rheims. The
DE LA SALLE, SEMINARIAN IN SAINT
next day he celebrates his first Mass in the
SULPICE
chapel of the episcopal residence in
Enters the seminary of Saint Sulpice in
Rheims
Paris while studying at La Sorbonne
APRIL 27, 1678
JULY 19, 1671
DEATH OF NICHOLAS ROLAND
The spiritual director of John Baptist de La
RETHEL
Salle and founder of the Sisters of the
After establishing the schools of Saint
Most Holy Child Jesus, in Rheims
Maurice, Saint James, and Saint
STARTING ACTIVITY
Symphorien, Adrien Nyel opens another
36
one in nearby Rethel
MARCH 3, 1679
JUNE 24, 1682
DE LA SALLE MEETS ADRIEN NYEL
DE LA SALLE LEAVES HIS HOME TO LIVE
Meets Adrien Nyel in Rheims and is willing
WITH THE TEACHERS on the Rue Neuve
to help him open a school for boys
AUGUST 16, 1683
APRIL 15, 1679
DE LA SALLE RESIGNS HIS CANONRY
OPENING OF THE FIRST SCHOOL IN
In favor of a poor priest, Jean Faubert
RHEIMS
JANUARY 17, 1684
In the parish of Saint Maurice, in Rheims.
DE LA SALLE DISTRIBUTES HIS WEALTH
Considered the first school of the Institute
AND GOODS TO THE POOR
1680
OCTOBER 1, 1685
BIRTH OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE
DE LA SALLE OPENS A SEMINARY FOR
BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
COUNTRY TEACHERS
According to the Bull of Approbation in
This is considered the beginning of
1725, we may say that this is the
Teacher Training Schools. There will be two
canonical birth of the Institute of the
new attempts of this kind of foundation in
Brothers of the Christian Schools
1699 and 1709
APRIL 1680
OCTOBER 1685 — DECEMBER 1685
DE LA SALLE, DOCTOR IN THEOLOGY
DE LA SALLE TAKES OVER A CLASS.
at the University of Rheims
Because several Brothers died, De La Salle
JUNE 24, 1681
is obliged to take over a class for around
DE LA SALLE GATHERS THE FIRST
two months or more in the parish school of
TEACHERS IN HIS HOUSE
Saint James
MARCH 1, 1682
MAY 23, 1686
OPENING OF THE FIRST SCHOOL IN
FIRST ASSEMBLY OF BROTHERS
Participants choose regulations, a habit,
his community
and name: Brothers of the Christian
JANUARY 1691
Schools: from now on they will be called
DEATH OF BR. HENRY L'HEUREUX
"Brothers"
while preparing himself to be ordained. De
MAY 29, 1686
La Salle expresses his conviction that his
DE LA SALLE, A PILGRIM AT THE
society will be composed only of nonordained
Brothers
SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF LIESSE
Pilgrimage with the 12 Brothers
JUNE 9, 1686
FIRST VOWS OF THE SOCIETY
John Baptist de La Salle and the first
Brothers individually pronounce their vow
of obedience for three years
MAY 31, 1687
DEATH OF ADRIEN NYEL
Death of Adrien Nyel in Rouen
FEBRUARY 1, 1688
LA SALLE SETTLES IN PARIS
called by the parish priest of Saint Sulpice
FEBRUARY 27, 1688
FIRST SCHOOL IN PARIS
Opens the first school in Paris, in the
parish of Saint Sulpice
37
DECEMBER 1689
"MEMOIR ON THE HABIT"
John Baptist de La Salle sends " to Henry
Baudrant, parish priest of Saint Sulpice, to
defend the identity and the autonomy of
PARIS
(1691-1712) A DECISION-MAKER
OCTOBER 8, 1691
OPENING OF THE NOVITIATE AT
VAUGIRARD (Paris)
NOVEMBER 21, 1691
THE HEROIC VOW
John Baptist de La Salle, Nicholas Vuyart
and Gabriel Drolin make a secret vow: to
remain united in the society even if they
have to live on bread alone
MAY 26, 1694
RETREAT AND ASSEMBLY IN VAUGIRARD
begins a retreat with the Brothers which
ends with an Assembly at Vaugirard
JUNE 6, 1694
PERPETUAL VOWS OF THE FIRST
BROTHERS
On the Feast of the Holy Trinity, John
Baptist de La Salle and 12 Brothers make
perpetual vows of Association, Stability,
and Obedience in the Society of the
Brothers of the Christian Schools
of bad governance. Cardinal De Noailles
JUNE 7, 1694
replaces De La Salle with an "ecclesiastical
DE LA SALLE, SUPERIOR OF THE SOCIETY
superior," Father Bricot. In the end. Bricot
Against his wishes, John Baptist de La
keeps his title but the founder remains the
Salle is elected Superior of the Community
"de facto" superior
by 12 Brother participants in the Assembly
FEBRUARY 6, 1703
APRIL 18, 1698
"DUTIES OF A CHRISTIAN"
DE LA SALLE, IN THE GRAND'MAISON IN
is published in Paris. It is a set of five
PARIS
catechisms written by De La Salle for use
moves along with the noviciate, from
as a textbook
Vaugirard to la Grand Maison (Paris)
FEBRUARY 15, 1703
SEPTEMBER 1698
"RULES OF CHRISTIAN DECORUM AND
BOARDING SCHOOL FOR 50 YOUNG
CIVILITY"
IRISHMEN
is printed in Troyes. The book was written
John Baptist de La Salle opens a boarding
by La Salle for use as a textbook
school in the Grand Maison (París) to host
38
a group of young Irishmen who were exiled
FEBRUARY 3, 1704
to France
DE LA SALLE, ACCUSED BY THE WRITING
MARCH 1700
MASTERS
FIRST "SUNDAY SCHOOL"
The "Writing Masters" begin judicial
Opens in the Grand Maison a "Sunday
attacks against the Lasallian Schools in
School" for young workers
Paris
DECEMBER 30, 1701
JULY 11, 1705
DE LA SALLE SENDS TWO BROTHERS TO
OPENING OF THE HOUSE OF SAINT YON
ROME
rents the compound of Saint Yon in the
The Drolin Brothers, Gabriel, and Gérard,
suburbs of Rouen, at Saint Sever: He
to Rome to show his fidelity to the Pope
establishes the novitiate there under the
DECEMBER 3, 1702
patronage of the Immaculate Conception
DE LA SALLE, ACCUSED UNJUSTLY
SEPTEMBER 23, 1705
"RULES OF THE BROTHERS OF THE
DE LA SALLE TRAVELS TO THE SOUTH OF
CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS"
FRANCE
The first copy was drafted in 1694
0verwhelmed by his problems John Baptist
OCTOBER 1705
de La Salle heads to the south of France.
OPENING OF THE FIRST BOARDING
During his stay in Grenoble he takes over a
SCHOOL IN SAINT YON, Rouen
class for several months, replacing a
MARCH 5, 1706
Brother
DE LA SALLE IS FORBIDDEN FROM
JULY 1712
TEACHING
ABORTED TRIP TO ROME
The Parliament of Paris denies De La Salle
to visit Brother Gabriel Drolin and the Holy
the right to teach
See. The Bishop of Marseilles summoned
MARCH 1709
him to open a new school
TRANSFER OF THE NOVITIATE TO PARIS
AUGUST 1713
Following the terrible famine of 1709, John
LA SALLE VISITS THE CARTHUSIAN
Baptist de La Salle transfers the novitiate
MONASTERY
from Rouen to Paris, to the sector of
begins a 10-month stay in Grenoble.
Sèvres
Durante the school holidays he spends
NOVEMBER 7, 1709
some days in the Carthusian monastery
FIRST SCHOOL IN ROME
founded by Saint Bruno
Brother Gabriel Drolin assumes the
FEBRUARY 1714
direction of a Pontifical school in Rome, in
LA SALLE RETREATS TO THE SOLITUDE OF
Via della Purificazione
PARMENIE
JANUARY 23, 1711
It is 30 kilometers southwest of Grenoble.
DE LA SALLE IS BROUGHT TO TRIAL
There he meets Sister Louise and discerns
is summoned to the court of justice
about his future
dealing with the Clément affair
APRIL 1, 1714
PARMENIE
A LETTER ARRIVES FROM PARIS
(1712-1714) AN ACHIEVER
The "principal Brothers" write a letter to
FEBRUARY 18, 1712
John Baptist de La Salle ordering him to
take up again the government of the
INTERIOR PRAYER"
Society. De La Salle obeys
While in Paris, John Baptist de La Salle
AUGUST 10, 1714
writes the "Explanation of the method of
DE LA SALLE TAKES UP AGAIN THE
interior prayer" for the novices. Published
GOVERNANCE OF THE INSTITUTE
only in 1739
In Paris after two years of absence in the
MARCH 7, 1718
south of France
DE LA SALLE AT SAINT YON
39
establishes the house of Saint Yon as the
1715
Mother House of the Institute
OPENING OF THE REFORMATORY IN SAINT
MARCH 19, 1719
YON
THE FINAL MASS OF DE LA SALLE
DECEMBER 4, 1716
On the feast of Saint Joseph, John Baptist
BROTHER BARTHÉLEMY VISITS THE
de La Salle, seriously ill, celebrates his last
HOUSES OF THE INSTITUTE
Mass
Delegated by several Brothers, Br.
APRIL 3, 1719
Barthélemy starts a visit to all the houses
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DE LA
of the Institute to prepare the Assembly
SALLE
that will elect a new Superior
requiring his Brothers to be faithful to
ROUEN
Rome
(1717-1719) A SERVANT-LEADER
APRIL 5, 1719
MAY 16, 1717 — MAY 23, 1717
DE LA SALLE RECEIVES THE ANOINTING OF
2ND GENERAL CHAPTER
THE SICK
Celebration of the 2nd General Chapter of
APRIL 7, 1719
the Institute in Saint Yon (Rouen)
THE DEATH OF DE LA SALLE
MAY 18, 1717 — JUNE 8, 1720
in Rouen on Good Friday. His last words
BROTHER BARTHÉLEMY, AS SUPERIOR
were "I adore in all things the will of God in
GENERAL.
my regard"
OCTOBER 1717 — MARCH 1718
APRIL 8, 1719
"EXPLANATION OF THE METHOD OF
DE LA SALLE IS BURIED
in the chapel of Saint Suzanne in the
church of Saint Sever (Rouen)
APRIL 9, 1719
A FRUITFUL LEGACY
During his life, John Baptist de La Salle
founded 58 schools in 26 cities in France.
In 1719 forty-two were still. functioning in
22 cities in the country, with 110 Brothers
and 9300 students