Saint John Baptist de la Salle

Saint John Baptist de la Salle was a Catholic priest from France. He was born in the year 1651 in the city of Reims. He died in 1719. He is best known for starting schools for poor boys. He is also known for founding a group called the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Some people call him “La Salle.”

At that time in France, only rich families could send their children to school. Poor children had to work. Most could not read or write. John Baptist de la Salle wanted to change that. He believed that all children should be able to learn, not just the rich.

He helped train teachers and set up schools. He worked with a group of men who lived together in a community. These men became the Christian Brothers. They taught boys in a way that was new at the time. They were kind and patient. They taught in the language of the people, not in Latin.

John Baptist de la Salle gave up his wealth to live like the poor. He trusted God and worked hard. Many people did not agree with him. But he kept going because he believed it was the right thing to do.

He is now the patron saint of teachers. His feast day is April 7. His work helped change schools in many countries. His ideas about education are still used today.

He showed that faith and learning can go together. He helped many children find a better life through school.

John Baptist de la Salle was born in Reims, France, in 1651. His family was rich and respected. He was the oldest of eleven children. His parents taught him to pray and follow God. From a young age, he wanted to be a priest.

When he was just eleven years old, he became a canon at the cathedral. This was a church job that came with money and respect. He kept studying and learning. He was smart and serious about his faith.

He went to Paris to study to become a priest. While he was there, his parents died. He had to return home to care for his younger brothers and sisters. He still wanted to become a priest, so he studied at home while helping his family.

In 1678, he was ordained a priest. He was twenty-seven years old. He thought he would work at the cathedral and live a quiet life. But God had other plans for him. He would soon meet people who would change his path.

John Baptist de la Salle met a man named Adrien Nyel. Nyel wanted to start schools for poor boys. He asked De la Salle for help. De la Salle welcomed him and helped him set up a small school in Reims. That first school started something new.

De la Salle saw that the teachers needed training. Many were not good at teaching. Some were too harsh with the students. He began to guide the teachers. He showed them how to be kind and patient. He also helped them live a life of faith.

He invited the teachers to live together in a small house. They prayed, ate, and worked as a group. This became the start of a new community. Over time, these men became the Brothers of the Christian Schools. They were not priests. They were teachers who gave their lives to help children learn.

In 1684, De la Salle gave up his position and his money. He chose to live like the Brothers. He wanted to be close to the poor. He also wanted to lead by example. The group faced many troubles, but they stayed together. Their work spread to other cities. The Christian Brothers became a strong group with a clear mission—to teach and care for poor boys.

John Baptist de la Salle believed that every child could learn. He thought poor children should have the same chance as rich ones. At that time, most poor children had no schooling. He wanted to change that. He saw teaching as a way to serve God.

He believed that teachers should care about their students. He told the Brothers to be kind, calm, and patient. He said they should never hit or yell. He taught them to respect each child. He wanted the classroom to be a place of peace and order.

He made many changes to the way schools worked. He grouped students by skill, not by age. He taught in French, not Latin. This helped students understand better. He also set times for lessons, meals, and prayer. He wanted school to be a safe and steady place.

De la Salle believed that teaching was holy work. He told the Brothers they were not just giving lessons. They were helping souls. He asked them to pray with their students and to show them the love of God. For him, teaching and faith always went together.

John Baptist de la Salle faced many problems. Not everyone liked what he was doing. Some teachers were angry. They said he was taking their jobs. Others said poor children should not be in school. They believed school was only for the rich.

Some Church leaders did not support him. They thought he was not following the right rules. They did not like that the Brothers were not priests. They said teaching should be left to others. Some even tried to shut down his schools.

He also faced problems with money. He gave up his family wealth. He lived simply with the Brothers. At times, they had no money for food or rent. Some Brothers left the group because life was too hard. But De la Salle kept going. He trusted that God would help them.

His health also became weak. He was tired and often sick. But he did not stop. He kept writing letters and books for teachers. He kept praying and guiding the Brothers. Even when the road was hard, he stayed faithful to his mission.

John Baptist de la Salle died in 1719. He was 67 years old. At the time of his death, there were many Christian Brothers. His schools had spread to different cities in France. After his death, his work kept growing.

In 1900, the Church made him a saint. Later, in 1950, Pope Pius XII named him the patron saint of teachers. His feast day is April 7. On this day, many schools and churches remember his life and his work.

Today, the Brothers of the Christian Schools are still active. They teach in many countries around the world. They run schools, train teachers, and help students, especially the poor. They follow the example De la Salle gave them.

Many Catholic schools today use his ideas. They focus on respect, kindness, and faith. Teachers try to care for the whole child, not just the mind. His simple dream—to teach the poor with love and faith—still lives on.

The Teacher’s Saint: John Baptist de La Salle – Patron Saint of Teachers

This book tells the story of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers. He was named patron in 1950 because of his strong care for students and teachers. The book shows how his life, faith, and teaching ideas still inspire people today. It is written for anyone who works in education. It reminds teachers why they chose this path. His example speaks to people from all places and cultures. This is a simple and clear look at a man who changed the world of teaching and still touches the lives of many.