Saint John Baptist de La Salle was a young seventeenth-century Frenchman who seemingly had everything going for him. He was of noble background, wealth, education, good looks, and a high position in the Church. At age 16, he was named the canon at Rheims and was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 27.
John Baptist rested in his high position and life of ease, yet God revealed that he had other plans for Saint John Baptist. During a chance meeting with Monsieur Adrien Nyel, Saint John Baptist became intrigued with the idea of creating schools for poor boys in Rheims.
Once convinced of this divine calling, John reduced himself to the level of the poor to whom he devoted his entire life. He left his family, abandoned his position at Rheims, and gave away his fortune. For the remainder of his life, he worked tirelessly providing education to boys of poor families, later founding the Brothers of the Christian School in France. This community grew rapidly, becoming a home and school for young delinquents of wealthy families.
Saint John Baptist abandoned his life of prestige and wealth and answered God’s call. Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Saint John Baptist de la Salle abandoned himself to God’s will. Is there are calling in your life, which may require you to abandon life’s comforts to do God’s will?
Saint John Baptist de La Salle is the patron saint of educators. Saint John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us!
