St. John Baptist de la Salle is a patron saint of teachers and all those who work in education because he founded Catholic schools and revolutionized Christian education.

He was born in 1651 to a wealthy family in Reims, France, the eldest of 10 children. He went on to university studies and then entered the seminary, but had to leave because both of his parents had died, and John was left as the head of the household. Six years later, he finished his studies and was ordained a priest. He went on to earn a doctorate in theology.

John became associated with a community of religious sisters who educated young girls, serving as their chaplain. His connection with their work flourished, and he began to adopt their mission for education. He lived in a time when there was a large gap between the wealthy and the poor, and he believed that education was the best tool for those living on the margins to improve their lives and grow in holiness.

He was asked to help found a school, and he went to great lengths to support the teachers there, who lacked training and qualified leadership. He gathered them for meals in his own home, which was a big step at that time because he was still of the upper class.

He eventually founded a new religious community, the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools, known as the Christian Brothers. (These Lasallian Brothers are a different order than the Irish Christian Brothers, who were founded by Blessed Edmund Rice.) Looking back, he could say that he had no intention of becoming so involved—he began with the expectation that he would support teachers materially from his resources and offer supervision. Over time, however, he was drawn ever deeper into the mission of education through these teachers, to the point where he joined his life with theirs. He abandoned his family home and inheritance, left an important position with the Church, and dedicated his life to forming teachers.

By the end of his life, John and the brothers in his community had established a network of schools throughout France that taught students in the vernacular (not Latin), grouped them according to their ability, taught both religious and secular subjects, trained teachers in both skill and mission, and integrated parents into the educational endeavor.

One of his most lasting contributions was the way John pioneered the training of lay teachers. Today, his community of brothers contains some 6,000 men who work with many other collaborators to teach nearly a million students every year.

John died on this date in 1719, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame’s campus. He is depicted in the Basilica in a stained glass window that portrays Catholic educators surrounding Jesus–he is the figure standing on the right. His portrait is used here with permission from Catholic.org.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, patron saint of all those who work in education—pray for us!