Pope urges Lasallians to care for
discarded through education
Pope Francis invites the Brothers of the Christian Schools
to continue in their passion to educate those discarded by society and to
promote a “culture of the resurrection” that offers hope for a new life.
By Devin Watkins
The Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as
Lasallians, are commemorating the 300thanniversary of the death of
their Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle.
He established the Institute of religious brothers in
France, in 1680, to provide quality education for poor children.
In an address on Thursday, Pope Francis praised St. de La
Salle as “a pioneer in the field of education, who created an innovative education
system for his time.”
The Pope said the Saint’s legacy is still remarkable today
for its vision of the school, the concept of the teacher, and innovative
teaching methods.
Right to education
Considering these three elements separately, Pope Francis
said de La Salle’s vision of the school made clear that all people, even the
poor, have a right to education.
“He gave life to a community of lay people to carry out his
ideal, and was certain that the Church cannot remain a stranger to the social
contradictions of its times,” he said.
Most education in 17th century France was
done by priests. The formation of the laity as teachers was therefore
revolutionary, and the Lasallians became a type of “lay monk” dedicated to
teaching poor children.
Teaching as a mission
Pope Francis then reflected on St. John Baptist de La
Salle’s concept of the teacher.
“He was certain that schooling was an important reality,
which requires adequately-prepared instructors,” said the Holy Father.
Taking stock of the structural deficiencies of his day’s
educational system, de La Salle decided that teaching is not just a job but a
mission, and surrounded himself with people who had natural qualities conducive
to education and formed them in the “dignity of the teacher”.
Revolutionary teaching methods
The Pope said the Saint also put into practice new teaching
methods, enlightened by “an extraordinary pedagogical realism”.
He held lessons in French – rather than the Latin that was
widely used at the time – and divided pupils into homogeneous groups in order
to better educate them. De La Salle even held seminars to form teachers in the
countryside and founded Sunday Schools for adults.
“He dreamed of a school open to all,” said the Pope, “and
thus dealt with even the most extreme educational needs, introducing a method
of rehabilitation through school and work.”
Offer hope through education
Finally, Pope Francis urged the Brothers of the Christian
Schools to “imitate his passion for the least and discarded” and to contrast
the culture of death with a “culture of the resurrection”.
“Never tire of seeking those who find themselves in the
modern ‘graves’ of bewilderment, degradation, discomfort, and poverty,” he
said, “to offer hope for a new life.”
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