Born into a wealthy family in 1651, John Baptist de la Salle was named canon of Reims Cathedral when he was sixteen and ordained to the priesthood at the age of 26.

In his day only the rich could afford an education for their children. John was determined to use his talents to advance education for everyone. He abandoned his family home, moved in with the teachers, renounced his position as canon and his wealth, and formed the community that became known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Christian Brothers).

John Baptist de la Salle was an educational innovator, often going against the norms of the day. He and his brothers created a network of quality free schools throughout France devoted to the instruction of poor children which featured instruction in the vernacular, students grouped according to ability, integration of religious instruction with secular subjects, and involvement of parents.

They offered Sunday courses for working young men, and founded technical schools, secondary schools for modern languages, arts, and sciences and one of the first institutions in France for the care of delinquents. John was insistent on the preparation of lay teachers in a first-of-its-kind teacher training college, forming well-prepared teachers with a sense of vocation and mission.

John’s vision was that, in the eyes of God, working-class children were just as important and have as much right to education as the children of the king. St. John Baptist de la Salle was an exemplary teacher who had innovative and effective ideas on how to educate youth, meeting the unique challenges of his day. As catechists, today’s needs impel us to dream and implement creative and prophetic catechetical approaches.

Reflections to Hold, Pray, and Live

• How are we designing program structures that respond to the experiences of today’s families? How do we implement faith formation as year-round, whole-community, and life-long?

• Are we educating for the Reign of God, rather than just about the church? What would it look like if we shifted from an academic model to a relational model?

Author:

Sister Janet Schaeffler, OP
Member, NCCL Board of Directors

Her book, SAINTS & MENTORS for Catechists: 41 Models of Faith to Support and Guide You, can be purchased from Twenty-Third Publications
[GET YOUR COPY HERE]

Learn more about Janet and her publications at https://www.janetschaeffler.com/