Seventeenth-century French priest who founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools for poor children. Patron of teachers.
Life
John Baptist de la Salle was born in 1651 into a wealthy family in Reims, France, and was ordained a priest in 1678. Almost by chance he became involved in helping start schools for poor children, and he was deeply moved by the reality of neglected, uneducated children and poorly prepared teachers.
He welcomed the teachers into his own home, lived with them and trained them, and finally gave up his wealth and church position to found the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He developed new methods of education, teaching in French rather than Latin, grouping students by level and forming teachers. He died in Rouen in 1719, was canonized in 1900, and was named patron of teachers in 1950.
Spirituality
De la Salle's spirituality sees teaching as God's own work. He believed teachers plant Christ in the hearts of children, and he led his Brothers to remember God's presence each day in the classroom. He taught that each poor child must be treated as God's precious son or daughter.
Reflection
De la Salle gave everything for the education of poor children. Children learn about God through our love. As a parent or Sunday school teacher, do I see children through God's eyes?