Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
This prayer has become synonymous with Saint John Baptist de La Salle, ever since my college days. I shifted from public school to a LaSallian Catholic college and I was blown away by the daily, hourly opening prayer with a nod to our founder. It was almost jarring the way that these words would calm the chaos of people milling around, finding seats, catching up as we began another lesson.
Twelve Words
At the end of those college days, I received a liturgical candle from our campus ministry team, etched with the same prayer. Years later, it became the unity candle we used in our wedding Mass in hopes that it would be a quiet, prayerful constant upon which we built our lives together. More recently I have found myself reaching for these words as an opportunity to open up prayer, and call to mind the awareness that God is not distant and far away, but as close as my next breath.
Initially I struggled with the repetition and the Founders’ Day celebrations that were intended to imbue students with a LaSallian identity, but I see the wisdom now. I can appreciate the attention to formation and mission that educators would want to promote . . . particularly because Saint John Baptist de La Salle was, first and foremost, an educator.
Providence
From a young age, Jean-Baptiste intended to give his life in service to the Lord. As the oldest child in a wealthy household, he was sent to school. However, when both his mother and father died, he assumed responsibility for the care and education of his younger siblings. Once they were grown, he continued the pursuit of his formation. In his first assignment, he was asked to provide pastoral care for a group of women religious. As providence would have it, his role serving as chaplain to the Sisters of the Child Jesus who had established a school, along with an invitation from a friend to begin another school, served as the turning point.
Particularly during the late 1600s in France, education was not readily accessible to all children, and especially those without wealth. Jean-Baptiste’s exposure to these children and their educators inspired him to champion better education for the underprivileged.
In Community
One of the unique marks of Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s life is the invitation he offered for lay teachers to live with him in community in his family home. He caused a tremendous stir at the time amongst his own family members and religious leadership, by inviting teachers into common living in an effort to share meals and offer formation. Community was at the heart of Jean-Baptiste’s mission.
Patron Saint of Teachers
So often the award or phrase “Teacher of the Year” calls to mind exemplary classroom teachers who have left a particular mark on their students. In this way, Saint John Baptist de La Salle is no different, although his students themselves were teachers. His outreach did as much or more to impact educators as it did their students. Not surprisingly, he found that by investing resources in teachers, his impact would have a further reach. Providing ideas, inspiration, community, and access to ongoing education for educators made for excellent leadership within schools.
Inspired by the experience, he began the first religious institute with no enrolled priests (other than himself). The Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools, or Christian Brothers (in the United States). Eventually these communities of Christian Brothers would serve in urban as well as rural settings around the world, wherever children lived in poverty.
Groundbreaking Methods
Saint John Baptist de La Salle is credited with encouraging teachers to offer instruction in the child’s first language, rather than Latin. He encouraged record-keeping of children and providing meals while children were at school. So many of his methods were new and strange—all of which, over time, proved effective. In many ways, he transformed Christian education.
We can continue to call upon his gifts of leadership and innovation. Whether you are a homeschooler, have children in school, have fond memories of a favorite teacher, or are maybe retired from a career of teaching, we can all acknowledge the impact of good teachers for all students.
What are some ways you do/could invest in the teachers in your life, whoever they are?
Live, Jesus, in our hearts forever. Saint John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us!
Katie Cassady is a wife and mom who has worked in young adult and social ministry in a variety of roles over the past 15 years. Steeped in theological reflection, it is her joy to make connections between Scripture, service, and Catholic social teaching through her work at Catholic Charities. She holds a master's degree in Pastoral Ministry and loves to write about the dignity of the human person, stewardship, and Sabbath in a world desperate for the peace of Christ.
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