St. John Baptist de la Salle

John Baptist de la Salle was born April 30, 1651 at Rheims, France. His parents raised him devoutly and gave him an excellent education. He earned his Master of Arts in 1669 and although his father would have liked for John to have become a lawyer, the young man went on to the seminary, where he distinguished himself by his piety and aptitude for learning. Before he was ordained, his parents died less than a year apart. John had to hasten home to settle his family’s affairs and see that his younger siblings were well provided for; he was finally able to be ordained on Holy Saturday 1678. He had been appointed canon of Rheims in 1667 and for awhile continued in this post. At Rheims he met Adrian Nyel, a layman who was opening a school for poor boys. Father de la Salle soon became deeply involved in education. He resigned the canonry and gave his wealth to the poor. De la Salle recognized that teachers needed formal training and preparation; he founded the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools to meet this need. This order is unique for no priests are allowed and no brothers can become priests; this provision allows the men to devote themselves entirely to the teaching ministry. Father de la Salle developed more modern teaching methods, insisting that children be taught in the vernacular rather than Latin. He was criticized by secular teachers; some wanted poor children to be taught only manual skills. The criticism caused controversy within his own order and his schools in Paris were closed for a brief time. John de la Salle resigned as head of the Christian Brothers in 1717 and died on April 7, 1719. He was canonized in 1900. He is the patron of teachers.