2. St. John Baptist de La SalleSt. John Baptist de La Salle Born: Reims, France, April 30, 1651Born: Reims, France, April 30, 1651 Died: April 7, 1719 Canonized: May 24, 1900 Proclaimed Patron of Teachers by Pope Pius XII on May 15, 1950. Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools

3. Inspired by the plight of the poor, De La Salle gave away his wealth and renounced his position as canon to devote his life to providing a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor. De La Salle became involved with starting free schools for poor boys in Reims because of a chance encounter with schoolmaster Adrian Nyel.

4. De La Salle and the Brothers he lived with chose to be called “Brothers of the Christian Schools.” In 1691, he and two other Brothers took the “heroic vow” of association to ensure continuation of their mission. In 1694, ten Brothers joined them in taking the vow. These constitute the most decisive foundational events for the Lasallian Institute.

5. Students in De La Salle’sStudents in De La Salle’s schools learned practical subjects and religion in their native language rather than Latin. He started programs toHe started programs to train teachers, offered courses for working men, and opened one of the first institutions in France to care for delinquents.

6. By the end ofBy the end of De La Salle’s life in 1719, some 23 houses of Brothers who were teaching throughout France had been established. He also authored voluminous materials on education.

7. Saint John Baptist de La Salle…Pray for us.