Jean-Baptiste was born in 1651 at Reims in France to the noble parents Louis de la Salle and Nicolle de Moet de Brouillet. He entered Holy Orders in 1662 and in 1667 was installed as a canon of the Metropolitan See of Reims. After graduating in 1669 with a Master of Arts degree from the University of Reims, Jean-Baptiste entered the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice, but while he was studying there both his parents died and he returned home to care for his brothers and sisters. In 1678 he was ordained a priest and in 1680 he graduated as a Doctor of Theology.
Jean-Baptiste founded the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools (Fratres Scholarum Christianarum) for the Christian education of youth. With patience he overcame the many obstacles which stood in the way of the establishment of his institute, which was formally approved by the Holy See a few years after his holy death on Good Friday in 1719. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle was canonised by Pope Leo XIII in 1900 and the Venerable Pope Pius XII declared him the patron saint of teachers in 1950.
Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
In Spain, the Saints Torquatus, Ctesiphon, Secundus, Indaletius, Caecilius, Hesychius and Euphrasius, who were consecrated bishops at Rome by the holy Apostles and sent to Spain to preach the word of God. When they had evangelised various cities and brought innumerable multitudes under the yoke of Christ, they rested in peace in various parts of that country: Torquatus at Cadiz, Ctesiphon at Vierco, Secundus at Avila, Indaletius at Portilla, Caecilius at Elvira, Hesychius at Gibraltar, and Euphrasius at Anduxar.
At Evora in Portugal, St. Mancius, martyr.
In the island of Chio, the birthday of blessed Isidore, martyr, in whose church is a well into which he is said to have been thrown. By drinking of the water from this well the sick are frequently cured.
At Lampsacum in Hellespont, the martyrdom of the Saints Peter, Andrew, Paul and Dionysia.
At Fausina in Sardinia, in the time of Diocletian and the governor Barbarus, St. Simplicius, a bishop, who consummated his martyrdom by being transpierced with a lance.
At Clermont in Auvergne, the holy martyrs Cassius, Victorinus, Maximus and their companions.
In Brabant, St. Dympna, virgin and martyr, daughter of an Irish king. By order of her father she was beheaded for the faith of Christ and the preservation of her virginity.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
