Birth, seminary studies, ordination
John Baptist was born at Rheims, France, on April 30, 1651, the eldest of ten children, of a wealthy and noble family. His parents allowed him to enter the seminary of Paris, where he was tonsured at the age of eleven. He then became a canon of the cathedral at Rheims when only sixteen. After all his studies, John Baptist was ordained a priest in 1678 A.D.
Inspired by a layman to an educational mission
In 1679 A.D., John Baptist met layman Adrian Nyel, who at that time was opening a school for poor boys. John Baptist then became involved in educational work. Because of this new work and apostolate, he gave up his renumerative assignments at the Rheims Cathedral, then distributed his fortune to the poor in the year 1684 A.D. He finally devoted himself to both the education of poor children and the improvement of the proficiency of the teachers.
Founding the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
John Baptist's work began to attract men who were desirous of his training. So he formed twelve of these teachers who all agreed to live as a community, and to dedicate themselves to the education of children and youth. From this core of twelve was founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The Institute received papal approval in 1725 A.D. St. John Baptist infused in these new community high standards of education. They were called the Christian Brothers. They decided that none of them should ever be a priest so they can concentrate on teaching.
Opening of more schools
St. John Baptist began to establish teachers' colleges (Rheims in 1687, Paris in 1699, Saint-Denis in 1709). He also established a junior novitiate in 1685 for those young men who were interested to be a member of the Institute. St. John Baptist steadily increased the number of schools for boys under his tutelage. He decided to exclude priests from the Institute and wrote his Conduite des écoles Chrétiennes - thus revolutionizing teaching methods. The new teaching methods he introduced replaced the method of individual instruction with the method of classroom teaching. His method also required the teaching of subjects in the vernacular rather than in Latin.
Growth of the Institute
Eventually, the Christian Brothers were able to open Catholic schools throughout Europe, and the Institute grew to be the largest teaching Institute of the Catholic Church. But the growth of this Institute was not without problems and trials. In the years of its development, St. John Baptist encountered opposition from secular teachers. Some opposed his ideas and reported the Institute's severity towards the novices. This caused the deposition of John Baptist in 1702. However, John Baptist remained in control of the Institute even when the brothers all threatened to leave. Aside from this trial, St. John Baptist had problems also with the Jansenists, who acted to close the schools in Paris. After all these trials and tribulations had ended for John, his schools eventually were reopened, and the Institute remained intact.
Retirement and death
In 1717 A.D., St. John Baptist resigned as superior of the Institute and lived humbly among his brethren. In the period before his death on April 7, Good Friday, in 1719 at St. Yon, Rouen, he wrote several books and spent some time teaching the novices of the Institute.
Canonization
John Baptist was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1900 and was declared patron of all school teachers by Pope Pius XII in 1950. The Church celebrates his feast on April 7.
Sources of this blog post
- A Year with the Saints, by Don Bosco Press Inc.
- Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
- Saints for Our Times, by Ed Ransom
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