Saint John Baptist de La Salle

Getting to know John Baptist de La Salle takes us back 300 years to Reims, France.

He lived in a world totally different from ours. It was a time when very few people had a comfortable life . Most people were very poor, being either peasants living in the country or living in town slums. People could not or did not care to send their children to some kind of school, while those who were well-off had private tutors.

Jean Baptist de La Salle was born in 1651, the eldest son of wealthy parents and brought up in the Catholic Faith. He was given a good education as he showed an aptitude for study. While still young he was named Canon of the Reims Cathedral. It meant he had become an official of the Church and gave service at the Cathedral. When he was 21 years old, both his parents died within a few months of each other. He had to take over the administration of family affairs  and take responsibility for his 4 brothers and 2 sisters. This did not deter him from continuing his theological studies, having set his heart on becoming a priest. In fact he was ordained priest in April 1678 and after 2 years he received a doctorate in Theology.
During his pastoral work he became involved in the establishment of a free school for boys who were ‘often left to themselves and badly brought up.’
This experience developed in a ‘wake-up call’ for Jean Baptist. Eventually, he gave up his position as Canon with the prospect of a high rank position in the Church and abandoned his family home and his wealth. He moved in with the teachers, later forming a community dedicated to a total change in the methods of education. They became known as the Brothers of Christian Schools, a new form of religious life committed to create a new approach to learning and establishing a ’network of quality schools.’

To make learning accessible to all, the local language was included in the methods of teaching, while students started to be assessed and grouped according to their abilities. Religious themes started to be integrated with other subjects and efforts were made for parental involvement. Programmes for teacher training were organised, developing into training colleges for educators. Young men were offered Sunday courses as well as the possibility of attending technical schools. Institutions were also set up to offer care and reform for delinquents.

John Baptist became an inspiration to all educators, so that, following his example and values, they sought not only to teach young people but also to care, to show compassion, to support those under their care, especially those who were weak and discouraged.
Throughout their endeavours, John Baptist and his companions had to face criticism, disappointments, and opposition. But they struggled on.  When John Baptist died at the age of 67, after being riddled with asthma and rheumatism for a number of years, his methods had spread not only throughout France, but also through Europe and beyond.

Today Lasallian schools are spread in 80 different countries, including Malta, where they became known as the Freres.