Easter: April 7th

Optional Memorial of St. John the Baptist de la Salle

MASS READINGS

April 07, 2016 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who chose Saint John Baptist de la Salle to educate young Christians, raise up, we pray, teachers in your Church ready to devote themselves wholeheartedly to the human and Christian formation of the young. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Recipes (1)

French Style Shepherd's Pie

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Activities (1)

Sorrow, Keystone for Lent

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Prayers (3)

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Library (3)

» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!

St. John Baptist de La Salle was born in Rheims, France. He was known as the Father of Modern Pedagogy. He opened free schools for poor children, introducing new teaching methods. He organized the congregation called the Brothers of the Christian Schools, which made great contributions to popular education.

St. John Baptist de la Salle
Generations of schoolboys have been taught by the Christian Brothers, and their founder, St. John Baptist de la Salle, is familiar in their prayers and devotions. "Brothers Boys" are scattered all over the world and all of them have fond memories of their "De la Salle" days.

John Baptist de la Salle was born at Rheims in 1651, became a member of the cathedral chapter at Rheims when he was sixteen, and was ordained a priest in 1678. Soon after ordination he was put in charge of a girls' school, and in 1679 he met Adrian Nyel, a layman who wanted to open a school for boys. Two schools were started, and Canon de la Salle became interested in the work of education. He took an interest in the teachers, eventually invited them to live in his own house, and tried to train them in the educational system that was forming in his mind. This first group ultimately left, unable to grasp what the saint had in mind; others, however, joined him, and the beginnings of the Brothers of the Christian Schools were begun.

Seeing a unique opportunity for good, Canon de la Salle resigned his canonry, gave his inheritance to the poor, and began to organize his teachers into a religious congregation. Soon, boys from his schools began to ask for admission to the Brothers, and the founder set up a juniorate to prepare them for their life as religious teachers. At the request of many pastors, he also set up a training school for teachers, first at Rheims, then at Paris, and finally at St.-Denis. Realizing that he was breaking entirely new ground in the education of the young, John Baptist de la Salle wrote books on his system of education, opened schools for tradesmen, and even founded a school for the nobility, at the request of King James of England.

The congregation had a tumultuous history, and the setbacks that the founder had to face were many; but the work was begun, and he guided it with rare wisdom. In Lent of 1719, he grew weak, met with a serious accident, and died on Good Friday. He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1900, and Pope Pius XII proclaimed him patron of schoolteachers.

Excerpted from The One Year Book of Saints, Rev. Clifford Stevens

Patron: Educators; school principals; teachers.

Things to Do:

From the Catholic Culture library: Consecrated Persons And Their Mission In Schools by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Spectata Fides (On Christian Education) by Pope Leo XIII and Divini Illius Magistri (On Christian Education) by Pope Pius XI.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Acts 5:27-33

Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Priest (Memorial)

The high priest questioned them. (Acts 5:27)

What a wild ride! For the past three years, the apostles have abandoned home and careers to follow Jesus. Then, in shock, they watch as he is crucified and buried. Only days later, they step inside his tomb and discover it empty. They have seen Jesus, alive, walk through walls. They felt the fire of Pentecost and have begun performing signs and wonders themselves. And now, they’re being hauled before a grand jury of the Sanhedrin and high priest to answer for the trouble they’ve caused.

Did they really sign up for this roller-coaster life? No. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into when they answered Jesus’ call. They just saw something in him that they were willing to trust, something they were willing to risk their plans for. Perhaps it was his authority and power. Maybe it was his love. Whatever it was, something awakened inside them. When they said yes to him, they stepped out in faith, and their lives were catapulted into an adventure that would leave them changed forever.

It’s true. This adventure of discipleship is fraught with challenge. The psalmist even vented, “Many are the troubles of the just man” (Psalm 34:20)! It’s a sure bet that when we say yes to God, we will eventually experience troubles. Just look at the apostles and the saints. None of them were strangers to hardship. We may focus on the miracles and victories, but there were also persecutions, imprisonments, bullyings, and, for some, martyrdom.

And yet despite all the hardships he faced, John still wrote, “God is trustworthy” (John 3:33). Why? Because he also knew that the Father doesn’t ration his love. He has given his Son and his Spirit to us completely, without reservation.

What does that say to you? Everything! It tells you how deeply God treasures you. He has given everything to you! That’s why you can consider him to be trustworthy.

Whether today feels like Pentecost or a grand jury inquest like the apostles faced, keep giving your yes to Jesus. None of us have any idea what tomorrow holds. But God does, and he has equipped you with everything you need to keep following him. He himself is trustworthy to walk with you in the adventure of a lifetime.

“Lord, I have tasted and seen your goodness. I give my yes to you.”

Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20
John 3:31-36