Risk-Taker

Lasallian Spirituality
- Devoted his talents to open schools for poor children
- Abandoned his family, canonry and wealth
Spirituality – a path which connects you to yourself and
- Established a community of brothers
almighty in the purest form
- derived from the Latin adjective ‘spiritualis’, which
means "concerning the spirit” Decision-maker

- ‘spirit’ means "animating or vital principle in man and
animals”. derived from the Latin word spiritus (soul,
courage, vigor, breath) and is related to spirare (to
breathe).
- Heroic Vow in 1691 with his two companions
- Established Vaugirard Novitiate
- Received Perpertual Vows with 12 brothers in 1693

Servant-Leader
Three Lasallian Virtues
- Use vernacular medium of instruction
- Trained Lay Teachers
Faith - to rest of God, despite the uncertainties that we
experience - Superior of the Brothers

• to open our hearts to the Word of God through prayers

Humble-Servant

Service - doing all our actions for the love of God - Went into Solitude at Parmenie in 1712-14

• the act of kindness in communion with our fellow Lasallians or - Serious attack of Rheumatism
to our less fortunate brothers and sisters - Period of Self-Effacement & Doubt
- Received letter from the Brothers to return
Communion in Mission – an act of solidarity, or individual’s - First General Chapter
dedication to his goal or mission
- Election of Brother Barthelemy
• unity within the community

Teacher
St. John Baptist de La Salle - a French priest, educational
reformer, and founder of an international educational - Teacher Training Center
movement who spent over forty years of his life to educate - Students are grouped according to ability
poor children.
- Instruction: Christian and Human education
Birthdate: April 30, 1651
Death: April 7, 1719 on Good Friday (at age 68)
Birthplace: Rheims, France

Who is St. John Baptist de La Salle?

1. Risk-Taker
2. Decision-Maker
3. Servant-Leader
4. Humble Servant
5. Educator
More on St. John Baptist de La Salle

A Scholar: 1678
- Ordained a priest at age 27 (April 9, 1678)

Family
- He is the Eldest son of a wealthy couple

- Noble family in France

Family Man
- Became Legal Guardian of his 6 brothers and sisters
- His mother died at age 20
- His father died at age 21
- Forced to leave the seminary in 1672

Destined for the Church

- Received tonsure at age eleven

- Named Canon of Reims Cathedral at age sixteen

- Entered the St. Sulpice Seminary in Paris at age nineteen

- Studied in Sorbonne University

How did our Founder St. John Baptist de la Salle become

more Christ-like?
- His generosity served as the hope of the unfortunate children
in education.
- Passionate human being who distributed his personal wealth
to the poor or his community.

"What is nobler than to mold the character of the young? I

consider that he who knows how to form the youthful mind is
truly greater than all painters, sculptors and all others of that
sort” - (St. John Chrysostom)

Words/terms:

Tonsure- is the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the

hair on the scalp, as a sign of religious devotion or humility.
Canon
Layman
Vaugirard novitiate
Perpetual vows - public vows made by the members of
religious communities pertaining to their conduct

Vernacular medium - the language or dialect spoken by the

ordinary people in a particular country or region.
Essential Elements of Christian Spirituality

1. Christian Spirituality is about Knowing God.

2. Christian Spirituality is about Experiencing God to the full.
3. Christian Spirituality involves Transformation of existence on
the basis of the Christian faith and truths.
4. Christian Spirituality is Attaining Christian authenticity in life
and thoughts.

Characteristics of Christian Spirituality

Christian spirituality is?

1. about totality of the whole person.
2. about the Trinitarian God of love and grace.
3. is a prophetic spirituality.
4. sustained in the journey of faith by grace.
5. is a contemplative spirituality.
6. is a healing spirituality.
7. is Christian spiritualities.
8. The cauldron of an enduring spirituality is suffering and
conflict but it ultimately leads to an Easter spirituality.