Saint John Baptist de la Salle

Saint John Baptist de la Salle , 1651-1719, French educator, founder of the Christian Brothers, b. Reims. He became a priest and canon of the cathedral. He spent his life teaching children of the poor. In 1684 (having resigned his canonry) he formed of his assistants a new order, the Christian Brothers. In 1685 to train his teachers, St. John Baptist founded at Reims what is called the first normal school. He was a careful pedagogical thinker and ranks as one of the distinguished educators of modern times. His name in French is Jean Baptiste de la Salle. Feast: May 15.

Bibliography: See W. J. Battersby, De la Salle (3 vol., 1945-52).

John Baptist de La Salle, St (1651–1719), founder of the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools. A canon of Reims from 1667, he was ordained in 1678 and in 1679 assisted in the opening of two free schools in Reims. He became interested in fostering religious principles in the teachers, a group of whom lived in his house. In 1683 he resigned his canonry and devoted himself to training his community. In 1699 he opened in Paris the first Sunday Schools giving technical and religious instruction to the sons of artisans. Later schools were started in other parts of France and beyond. In 1690 he decided against including priests in the Institute and in 1694 he drew up the first rule. Feast day, 7 Apr. (formerly 15 May).