Between today and tomorrow, Lasallian schools around the world are remembering St John Baptist De La Salle, the founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Patron Saint of Christian Teachers. In Malta, there are three Lasallian schools administered by the Order of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Freres) which are De La Salle College in Cottonera, Stella Maris College in Gzira and St Benild School in Sliema. Recently the Order celebrated its 100 years in Malta.

St John Baptist de La Salle was born into a world very different from our own. He was the first son of wealthy parents living in France over 300 years ago. Born at Rheims in 1651, John Baptist de La Salle received the tonsure at age 11 and was named canon of the Rheims Cathedral at 16. Though he had to assume the administration of family affairs after his parents died, he completed his theological studies and was ordained a priest on 9 April 1678. Two years later he received a doctorate in theology. Meanwhile he became tentatively involved with a group of rough and barely literate young men in order to establish schools for poor boys.

At that time a few people lived in luxury, but most of the people were extremely poor: peasants in the country and slum dwellers in the towns. Only a few could send their children to school; most children had little hope for the future. Moved by the plight of the poor who seemed so “far from salvation”, he was determined to put his own talents and advanced education at the service of the children “often left to themselves and badly brought up”. To be more effective, he abandoned his family home, moved in with the teachers, renounced his position as canon and his wealth, and so formed the community that became known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

His enterprise met opposition from the ecclesiastical authorities who resisted the creation of a new form of religious life, a community of consecrated laymen to lead gratuitous schools “together and by association”. The educational establishment resented his innovative methods and his insistence on education for all, regardless of whether they could afford to pay.

Nevertheless De La Salle and his Brothers succeeded in creating a network of quality schools throughout France that featured instruction in the vernacular, students grouped according to ability and achievement, integration of religious instruction with secular subjects, well-prepared teachers with a sense of vocation and mission, and the involvement of parents. In addition, De La Salle pioneered in programmes for training lay teachers, Sunday courses for working young men, and one of the first institutions in France for the care of delinquents. Worn out by austerities and exhausting labours, he died at Saint Yon near Rouen early in 1719 on Good Friday, only weeks before his 68th birthday.

John Baptist de La Salle was a pioneer in founding training colleges for teachers, reform schools for delinquents, technical schools, and secondary schools for modern languages, arts, and sciences. His work quickly spread through France and, after his death, continued to spread across the globe. In 1900 John Baptist de La Salle was declared a Saint. In 1950, because of his life and inspirational writings, he was made patron saint of all those who work in the field of education. John Baptist de La Salle inspired others to teach and care for young people, to meet failure and frailty with compassion, to affirm, strengthen and heal. At present there are De La Salle schools in 80 countries around the globe. More details about the Lasallian Schools in the world may be obtained through the website www.lasalle.org.

The three Lasallian Schools in Malta will be remembering St John Baptist De La Salle by organising a number of activities with the involvement of students, teachers and parents. Today De La Salle College will be organising a number of activities during the morning and a concert in the evening.

Tomorrow, students of Stella Maris College and St Benild School will be visiting De La Salle College and will be taking part in another special activity in the presence of the Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca.