St. John Baptist de La St. John Baptist de La SalleSalleFounder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools

Inspired by the plight of the poor, Inspired by the plight of the poor, De La Salle gave away his wealth De La Salle gave away his wealth and renounced his position as and renounced his position as canon to devote his life to canon to devote his life to providing a human and Christian providing a human and Christian education to the young, education to the young, especially the poor. especially the poor.

De La Salle became involved with De La Salle became involved with starting free schools for poor boys starting free schools for poor boys in Reims because of a chance in Reims because of a chance encounter with schoolmaster encounter with schoolmaster Adrian Nyel.Adrian Nyel.

De La Salle and the Brothers he De La Salle and the Brothers he lived with chose to be called lived with chose to be called “Brothers of the Christian “Brothers of the Christian SchoolsSchools.”.”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.

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

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