Life of St John Baptist De La Salle

Summary

Saint John Baptist de la Salle, known as the 'Patron Saint of Christian Teachers,' was a French priest and educational reformer who founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Born in 1651, he faced personal loss and challenges but dedicated his life to educating the poor and training teachers. He established the first normal school in 1685 to improve teaching standards. Despite crises and opposition, de la Salle and his followers made a heroic vow to continue their mission, profoundly impacting modern pedagogy.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Saint John Baptist de la Salle was a French priest and educational reformer.
• 📅 His feast day is celebrated on April 7th, as designated by Pope Paul VI.
• 🏫 He is recognized as the patron saint of Christian teachers and the founder of the De La Salle schools and the Freres des Ecoles Chretiennes (Brothers of the Christian Schools).
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Born into a middle-class family, he was the eldest of seven siblings.
• 📚 At the age of 11, he received the tonsure, a religious rite, and at 16, he was installed as a canon at the Reims Cathedral.
• 🎓 He obtained a Master of Arts degree at the College of Des Barres in 1669.
• 👨‍🏫 At 21, after the death of his parents, he took responsibility for his siblings' education and four of them entered religious life.
• 🏡 In 1681, he invited teachers to live with him to train them in better teaching methods.
• 👨‍🏫‍🔬 In 1685, he established the first normal school to train teachers.
• 🚫 He faced significant challenges, including rebellion from the brothers he trained and accusations from the church authorities and writing masters.
• 🤝 With two brothers, he made a heroic vow to continue their mission despite the challenges, known as the Vow of Association.
• 🌟 Despite moments of doubt, he was reminded of his mission's importance and continued his work for the rest of his life.

Q & A

Who was John Baptist de La Salle?

John Baptist de La Salle was a French priest and educational reformer, best known as the founder of the De La Salle schools and the Fratres Scholarum Christianarum (Brothers of the Christian Schools). He is also considered the patron saint of Christian teachers and the father of modern pedagogy.

When and where was John Baptist de La Salle born?

John Baptist de La Salle was born on April 30, 1651, in Reims, France.

What role did De La Salle’s family background play in his life?

De La Salle came from a middle-class family, with his father, Louis de La Salle, serving as a magistrate, and his mother, Nicole Moet de Brouillet, being part of a noble family. As the eldest of seven siblings, De La Salle took responsibility for his family after his parents passed away.

What significant event occurred when De La Salle was 11 years old?

At the age of 11, John Baptist de La Salle received the clerical tonsure, a religious ceremony involving the cutting of hair, marking his entry into the clergy.

What were De La Salle’s academic achievements?

De La Salle earned a Master of Arts degree from the College of Bons Enfants in Reims in 1669. He later entered the seminary of Saint Sulpice in Paris and received his doctorate in theology.

How did De La Salle become involved in education?

De La Salle was asked by Adrian Nyel in 1679 to establish a school for boys. This encounter eventually led him to found the first normal school in 1685, aimed at training teachers in Reims, France.

What challenges did De La Salle face during his mission to reform education?

De La Salle faced numerous challenges, including opposition from writing masters who accused him of stealing their livelihood, conflicts with church authorities, and accusations from parents. He also dealt with personal crises, such as the rebellion of some of his brothers and the death of key figures like Brother Henri.

What was the heroic vow taken by De La Salle and his followers?

De La Salle, along with Gabriel Drolin and Nicolas Vuyart, took a heroic vow of association, pledging to continue their mission to educate and train teachers no matter the difficulties they faced.

Why did De La Salle temporarily abandon his mission?

De La Salle experienced a period of personal crisis and doubt, during which he retreated to Parmenie to reflect on whether his mission was worth continuing. However, he was later encouraged by his followers, Nicolas Vuyart and Gabriel Drolin, to return and carry on the work.

What was the lasting impact of De La Salle’s work?

John Baptist de La Salle's work revolutionized education for the poor and laid the foundation for modern educational practices. His establishment of schools and teacher training programs had a profound and lasting impact on education worldwide.