What a busy summer this has been so far! Lots of visiting with old friends and getting settled in back home for the next three months. Yesterday, however, the big news locally was the acquittal of Dr. James Corasanti, who ran over an 18 year old girl on a skateboard last July. Corasanti never stopped, claiming in court he had not known he had hit a person on his drive home that evening, despite the fact that two woman rushed out of their houses hundreds of feet away at the sound of the impact and the collision formed a buckle in the hood of his car that rose up 8 inches. He refused a breathalyzer test two hours after the incident, and a blood test taken five hours later still pegged his alcohol level as over the legal limit.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of the case was the fact that this is a man who is expected, as a Medical Doctor, to help people. Yet, upon inspecting the vehicle in his garage and seeing the damage and the blood and body tissue from the incident, his first call was not to 911 but rather to his attorney. Despite what seemed to be a fairly strong case against Corasanti, the jury acquitted him after 13 hours of deliberations of all felony charges and convicted him only of a misdemeanor DWI. Even the seemingly apparent charge of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, resulting in death, which could have carried a sentence of 2 1/2 to 7 years in prison, was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
The overwhelming opinion of the community in regards to this verdict seems to be there was a miscarriage of justice yesterday. Cases such as this can remind us all that human justice is imperfect because it is determined by imperfect humans. Many people openly ridicule the difficult job 12 men and women did in deciding this case, yet I would guess a large number of the disgruntled either have or would do everything in their power to attempt to get out of jury duty. It is an awfully difficult task to try to determine whether someone is guilty or innocent, and many people feel unable or are unwilling to commit the time or mental anguish to perform this necessary public service. Let us be thankful God is more steadfast in his pursuit of justice than we.
I pray that the family of the victim is comforted with the knowledge that there are higher courts than the one that ruled "not guilty" yesterday. First, there is the court of conscience. If Dr. Corasanti kept driving that night despite knowing there was even a chance he had struck another human being, then that is knowledge he will have to live with the rest of his life. Above all, the judgement that God will render on each one of us at the end of our lives is perfectly just and unerring. The Lord's verdict cannot be swayed by money or prestige. On the last day, we shall all be held accountable for our failures and missteps.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Today, Pentecost Sunday, marks the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is the life force of the Church. Just as a light cannot operate without electricity or an iPhone without a battery, the Church would not function without the Holy Spirit to guide it.
I think one of the toughest mysteries for a Christian to grapple with is why Jesus, risen and victorious over death, had to physically depart His followers once again to ascend to God in Heaven. Perhaps the best explanation for this that I have read comes from Saint Cyril of Alexandria. He wrote:
In order to understand the Ascension and Pentecost, we must realize Jesus' goal was never to build an earthly kingdom. At the time of His crucifixion, neither the apostles or the Jews understood this. When Jesus refused to save Himself by coming down off the cross, the apostles felt defeated as they ran away and the Jews felt vindicated as they mocked the Lord. Yet, by the third day it was Christ who had defeated death and mocked Satan, once and for all.
Our faith hinges on Easter. If we do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, then Christianity is a farce; a convenient story conjured up by 11 men who had had their leader nailed to a tree and killed. So why should we believe? In the Acts of the Apostles, Gamaliel, a Pharisee, warned the other elders and scribes about persecuting the apostles. He said: I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God! (Acts 5:38-39) Ultimately, many chose not to heed the warning of Gamaliel. All of the apostles but the traitor Judas and John became martyrs in defense of the Early Church. Isn't it likely that, if Christianity was a human "plan or undertaking", these men would have chosen to confess to their lies rather than give up their lives? Their martyrdoms are the best evidence ever for the truth of the resurrection, and they were able to be so steadfast only because they were strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Two thousand years later, still nobody has been able to overthrow the Church, though many have tried and many continue to try as you read this. The Church is constituted of imperfect people, sinful in nature and prone to weakness and failure. Yet the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is able to fashion a Church that clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, shelters the homeless, administers the sacraments, and numberless other acts of charity and grace. The Church will continue to go through trials, perhaps even severe ones, as modern society increasingly deviates from traditional Christian morality and standards. But so long as the Holy Spirit remains in the Church and her members, it shall remain an indefatigable force for the salvation of the world.
I think one of the toughest mysteries for a Christian to grapple with is why Jesus, risen and victorious over death, had to physically depart His followers once again to ascend to God in Heaven. Perhaps the best explanation for this that I have read comes from Saint Cyril of Alexandria. He wrote:
After Christ had completed his mission on earth, it still remained necessary for us to become sharers in the divine nature of the Word. We had to give up our own life and be so transformed that we would begin to live an entirely new kind of life that would be pleasing to God. This was something we could do only by sharing in the Holy Spirit.
It was most fitting that the sending of the Spirit and his descent upon us should take place after the departure of Christ our Savior. As long as Christ was with them in the flesh, it must have seemed to believers that they possessed every blessing in him; but when the time came for him to ascend to his heavenly Father, it was necessary for him to be united through his Spirit to those who worshipped him, and to dwell in our hearts through faith. Only by his own presence within us in this way could he give us confidence to cry out, Abba, Father, make it easy for us to grow in holiness and, through our possession of the all-powerful Spirit, fortify us invincibly against the wiles of the devil and the assaults of men.
In order to understand the Ascension and Pentecost, we must realize Jesus' goal was never to build an earthly kingdom. At the time of His crucifixion, neither the apostles or the Jews understood this. When Jesus refused to save Himself by coming down off the cross, the apostles felt defeated as they ran away and the Jews felt vindicated as they mocked the Lord. Yet, by the third day it was Christ who had defeated death and mocked Satan, once and for all.Our faith hinges on Easter. If we do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, then Christianity is a farce; a convenient story conjured up by 11 men who had had their leader nailed to a tree and killed. So why should we believe? In the Acts of the Apostles, Gamaliel, a Pharisee, warned the other elders and scribes about persecuting the apostles. He said: I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God! (Acts 5:38-39) Ultimately, many chose not to heed the warning of Gamaliel. All of the apostles but the traitor Judas and John became martyrs in defense of the Early Church. Isn't it likely that, if Christianity was a human "plan or undertaking", these men would have chosen to confess to their lies rather than give up their lives? Their martyrdoms are the best evidence ever for the truth of the resurrection, and they were able to be so steadfast only because they were strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Two thousand years later, still nobody has been able to overthrow the Church, though many have tried and many continue to try as you read this. The Church is constituted of imperfect people, sinful in nature and prone to weakness and failure. Yet the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is able to fashion a Church that clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, shelters the homeless, administers the sacraments, and numberless other acts of charity and grace. The Church will continue to go through trials, perhaps even severe ones, as modern society increasingly deviates from traditional Christian morality and standards. But so long as the Holy Spirit remains in the Church and her members, it shall remain an indefatigable force for the salvation of the world.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Feed, Tend, and Follow
In today's gospel (Jn 21:15-19), Jesus asks Saint Peter the ultimate question: do you love me? Jesus is not satisfied with Peter's first affirmation, asking for the same pledge of devotion three times- a reparation for Peter's threefold denial of Christ on Holy Thursday.
It is interesting to compare Peter's words in this passage to before the Lord's Resurrection. Before denying Jesus, Peter was arrogant, raising himself above the other apostles to prove his love. He said though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away. (Mt 26:33) Notice how Peter is prideful in this exchange, attributing his faithfulness to the Lord to his own greatness. This kind of behavior fails to gain favor with the Lord, as He immediately tells Peter that he will not only fall away, but completely deny knowing Him.
In today's gospel, Jesus tests Peter with the question do you love me more than these? (Jn 21:15) It would have been easy for Peter to take the bait and again speak of his devotion to Christ in relation to the other disciples. This time, however, Peter is not prideful. He speaks from his heart when he replies yes, Lord; you know that I love you. His love for Jesus is so strong now, after having failed and been forgiven, that it is self-evident.
We all should have the kind of love for Christ that Peter demonstrates here, as we have all, at some point, denied Jesus and, through no merit of our own, received his pardon for our offense. In my own life, I can think of many times that I have shied away from defending the Church and its teachings. Jesus gives Peter four commands in today's gospel: feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep, and follow me. If we, like Peter, love Jesus with a self-evident love, then we too are called to take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Before Jesus' passion, Peter did not understand what it meant to feed and tend Christ's flock. He thought of discipleship as a competition, seeking to prove himself more worthy than others. Now, Peter realizes that his love is best exemplified through leading others towards a better relationship with the Father and Son. The way is not always smooth, but, in Peter and Jesus, we have two great guides for how to become shepherds in our own lives.
In today's gospel, Jesus tests Peter with the question do you love me more than these? (Jn 21:15) It would have been easy for Peter to take the bait and again speak of his devotion to Christ in relation to the other disciples. This time, however, Peter is not prideful. He speaks from his heart when he replies yes, Lord; you know that I love you. His love for Jesus is so strong now, after having failed and been forgiven, that it is self-evident.
We all should have the kind of love for Christ that Peter demonstrates here, as we have all, at some point, denied Jesus and, through no merit of our own, received his pardon for our offense. In my own life, I can think of many times that I have shied away from defending the Church and its teachings. Jesus gives Peter four commands in today's gospel: feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep, and follow me. If we, like Peter, love Jesus with a self-evident love, then we too are called to take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Before Jesus' passion, Peter did not understand what it meant to feed and tend Christ's flock. He thought of discipleship as a competition, seeking to prove himself more worthy than others. Now, Peter realizes that his love is best exemplified through leading others towards a better relationship with the Father and Son. The way is not always smooth, but, in Peter and Jesus, we have two great guides for how to become shepherds in our own lives.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Thoughts from an Eight Hour Car Ride
On Monday, two friends and I made the journey up from the nation's capital back to Buffalo in a car packed with what were the contents of my dorm for the past 9 months. They had come down on Friday for few days of the sightseeing and delicious food that Washington is so uniquely capable of offering.
Somewhere around the Maryland-Pennsylvania border, the conversation in the vehicle died down and I began to really think about heading back home for an extended period of time- almost exactly three months- until I leave for Costa Rica. I, like many college students, miss home when I'm not there for a couple months. Then, around the third day back in my house, I find myself counting down the days for my departure.
I've been both looking forward and dreading summer back home for several months now. On the one hand, summer provides an opportunity to see my old friends on a more frequent basis and get away from the annoyances of college life- especially in such an egotistical and superficial city as D.C. Summer is also a chance to spend more time with my mom and Grandpa in our house we share.
At the same time, my family relies a great deal on me when I am home. Since neither of them drive, I take them to all their appointments, to do their shopping, and anything else that comes up. This summer is the first for my grandpa without his car, and that loss of personal freedom has taken a toll on him. He's very resentful of the decision the family has made, and that negative energy is released most directly on my mother, who is his primary caregiver. It's difficult to see my mom struggle with the responsibility of caring for the man who cared for her for so many years, especially when it seems nobody, including him, really appreciates just how much she does. All of this familial stress makes it harder for me to control my quick temper as I get worn down. I find myself snapping and being rude at home far more than I ever am in Washington.
Another problem I have with being home and away from my GW Catholic community is the lack of familiar structure that I have grown used to this year. I still try to make it to daily Mass at my home parish, but I find the service less enjoyable without familiar faces and normal procedures. At today's Mass, the priest celebrated with no alb or chasuble, just a stole over his black shirt!
Despite my hesitations about this summer, I have great peace and comfort that this is going to be a terrific three months. The fears I have are simply challenges that I need to overcome to become a more loving family member. How honored I ought to be that God has found me capable enough to handle what he puts before me! As the expression goes, the Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God cannot protect you. And while the differences from the Archdiocese in Washington to this diocese will take some re-acclimatimation on my part, I believe it will help me to grow even more in my love for Christ. As annoyed as I was at Mass today, I remembered during the Consecration that no matter what ancillary things are amiss, it is still Jesus offering himself as a sacrifice for my salvation on the altar. And with that knowledge, I shall say like the psalmist David: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom (or what) should I fear? (Ps 27:1)
Somewhere around the Maryland-Pennsylvania border, the conversation in the vehicle died down and I began to really think about heading back home for an extended period of time- almost exactly three months- until I leave for Costa Rica. I, like many college students, miss home when I'm not there for a couple months. Then, around the third day back in my house, I find myself counting down the days for my departure.
 |
| My friend Phil and I after lunch at a Washington institution: Ben's Chili Bowl |
At the same time, my family relies a great deal on me when I am home. Since neither of them drive, I take them to all their appointments, to do their shopping, and anything else that comes up. This summer is the first for my grandpa without his car, and that loss of personal freedom has taken a toll on him. He's very resentful of the decision the family has made, and that negative energy is released most directly on my mother, who is his primary caregiver. It's difficult to see my mom struggle with the responsibility of caring for the man who cared for her for so many years, especially when it seems nobody, including him, really appreciates just how much she does. All of this familial stress makes it harder for me to control my quick temper as I get worn down. I find myself snapping and being rude at home far more than I ever am in Washington.
Another problem I have with being home and away from my GW Catholic community is the lack of familiar structure that I have grown used to this year. I still try to make it to daily Mass at my home parish, but I find the service less enjoyable without familiar faces and normal procedures. At today's Mass, the priest celebrated with no alb or chasuble, just a stole over his black shirt!
Despite my hesitations about this summer, I have great peace and comfort that this is going to be a terrific three months. The fears I have are simply challenges that I need to overcome to become a more loving family member. How honored I ought to be that God has found me capable enough to handle what he puts before me! As the expression goes, the Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God cannot protect you. And while the differences from the Archdiocese in Washington to this diocese will take some re-acclimatimation on my part, I believe it will help me to grow even more in my love for Christ. As annoyed as I was at Mass today, I remembered during the Consecration that no matter what ancillary things are amiss, it is still Jesus offering himself as a sacrifice for my salvation on the altar. And with that knowledge, I shall say like the psalmist David: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom (or what) should I fear? (Ps 27:1)
Friday, May 18, 2012
Thank You!
It's been one month since I began this blog, and the response to it has been amazing! The twenty blog posts have been read by people in over a dozen countries...the only continent it hasn't touched yet is Africa (and Antarctica- but I hear penguins and polar bears aren't the most open-minded animals).
The comments and support of family and friends has been most encouraging. It is hard to describe how rewarding it is to get an e-mail or a text from someone I have not heard from in a couple years saying they read one the my posts and it made them think about their own relationship with the Lord. A lot of people have thanked me, but it is not I they should be thanking, for I am just acting as an intermediary. As Saint Paul writes:
This weekend, I will be moving back to Buffalo, NY for the summer. Expect new posts to begin again next week. Until then, I encourage you all to take a look back through any posts you've missed the past month and comment on any that strike you. Comments are the most concrete way to let me know how the blog is doing, so anything you have to share is appreciated. I also am open to topic suggestions if there is something you really want to se written about. My e-mail is mchenryj@gwmail.gwu.edu. I can't promise I'll use your topic, but I will try my best!
Until later, God Bless!
Joe
The comments and support of family and friends has been most encouraging. It is hard to describe how rewarding it is to get an e-mail or a text from someone I have not heard from in a couple years saying they read one the my posts and it made them think about their own relationship with the Lord. A lot of people have thanked me, but it is not I they should be thanking, for I am just acting as an intermediary. As Saint Paul writes:
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. (1Cor 9:16-19)The topics we've talked about so far have been broad and varied. Some, such as last week's post on marriage have received some criticism and accusations of my character that saddens me. Yet, the negativity pales in comparison to the positive reception the blog has received, and I thank God for that tremendous gift!
This weekend, I will be moving back to Buffalo, NY for the summer. Expect new posts to begin again next week. Until then, I encourage you all to take a look back through any posts you've missed the past month and comment on any that strike you. Comments are the most concrete way to let me know how the blog is doing, so anything you have to share is appreciated. I also am open to topic suggestions if there is something you really want to se written about. My e-mail is mchenryj@gwmail.gwu.edu. I can't promise I'll use your topic, but I will try my best!
Until later, God Bless!
Joe
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Suffering for a Purpose
A large amount of people I know right now are going through some difficulty or burden recently. Almost every day for the past two weeks, I've had a couple people ask me to keep their loved ones in my prayers as they struggle through illness, or mourn the death of someone close to them. I'm thankful that this week has been relatively free for me, as that has given me more time to pray for these people.
As I've been praying, I've also been thinking of the nature of suffering and pain. I'm not the first one to wonder why suffering exists, and I am no closer to uncovering an answer, for the Lord Himself tells us: my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. (Is 55:8) While I cannot know the Lord's motives in this life, it has struck me that suffering and pain affects both non-believers and believers, but its effects are different for each group.
Non-believers often times lack belief because they find no need for God in their lives. Their logic makes perfect sense from a utilitarian point of view: why would I spend time in praise and make sacrifices of my own pleasure if it is not going to add any value to my life. In other words, the non-believer who lacks faith thinks that his or her life is not broke, so why bother with God to fix it?
Then disaster strikes these people's lives like a thief in the night. There's a truism that says "there are no atheists in foxholes." I would say that very few non-believers can deny God whenever suffering occurs, whether it is on a battlefield or the waiting area of an emergency room. Suffering and pain draw the non-believer into God's redemptive and protective embrace. It makes he or she realize just how fragile his or her earthly life is, how it is built on the shifting sands if it is not built on the rock that is our Heavenly Father. The pain of grief and despair is not just useful for the salvation of the non-believer, indeed it is essential. For it is only in humbling ourselves and falling to our knees in vulnerability that can we reconcile ourselves to God, or, rather, God can reconcile us to Himself.
If that is the usefulness of pain and suffering for the non-believer, then what can be gained from the trials of the devout? If disaster for the denier is akin to surgery, then for the Christian it is more analogous to a checkup. We need to be constantly reminded just how weak we are without the Lord. If everything was always wonderful, would our love for God be unconditional, like His is for us, or would it begin to grow conditional on the goodness in our lives? After a while, would we even give thanks to God anymore at all, or might we begin to reason that we've created our own fortunes of our own accord?
As humans, we are conditioned to see the good as a blessing and the bad as a curse. Is it not true, however, that sometimes the opposite is the case? The bad keeps us humble, while the good makes us prideful. The bad makes us temperate, while the good makes us gluttonous. The bad nurtures our virtues, while the good grows our vices.
That is not to say that we ought to reject and run from the good things of our life. Good provides us with goodness because He wants our joy to be complete. (Jn 16:24) That complete joy, however, comes not from ourselves or even from the things He provides. It comes from God and being one in God. We can only be in God when we offer up our sufferings and pain as a testament to our complete dependence on His Providence. Suffering does not necessarily mean that we are being punished. In the Book of Job, God allows the devil to test the righteous Job with all manner of disasters to him and his family in order to prove that his love for God is not a product of the things God provides but rather an unconditional love. Like Job, we too can sometimes be weak in the face of adversity and wonder whether God is just and loving. But just as Job repents and trusts in the Lord, we too can come to see that our suffering is purposeful in that it bring us closer to God!
Even Jesus asked, in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Father that He remove His suffering. (Lk 22:42) In Jesus, we have our most clear example of the necessity and power of pain and suffering. Ultimately, Christ offered us His pain to the Lord, and, in so doing, opened the gates of Heaven to us. May we strive to accept our suffering with as much thanks to God that we accept our happiness.
As I've been praying, I've also been thinking of the nature of suffering and pain. I'm not the first one to wonder why suffering exists, and I am no closer to uncovering an answer, for the Lord Himself tells us: my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. (Is 55:8) While I cannot know the Lord's motives in this life, it has struck me that suffering and pain affects both non-believers and believers, but its effects are different for each group.
Non-believers often times lack belief because they find no need for God in their lives. Their logic makes perfect sense from a utilitarian point of view: why would I spend time in praise and make sacrifices of my own pleasure if it is not going to add any value to my life. In other words, the non-believer who lacks faith thinks that his or her life is not broke, so why bother with God to fix it?
Then disaster strikes these people's lives like a thief in the night. There's a truism that says "there are no atheists in foxholes." I would say that very few non-believers can deny God whenever suffering occurs, whether it is on a battlefield or the waiting area of an emergency room. Suffering and pain draw the non-believer into God's redemptive and protective embrace. It makes he or she realize just how fragile his or her earthly life is, how it is built on the shifting sands if it is not built on the rock that is our Heavenly Father. The pain of grief and despair is not just useful for the salvation of the non-believer, indeed it is essential. For it is only in humbling ourselves and falling to our knees in vulnerability that can we reconcile ourselves to God, or, rather, God can reconcile us to Himself.
If that is the usefulness of pain and suffering for the non-believer, then what can be gained from the trials of the devout? If disaster for the denier is akin to surgery, then for the Christian it is more analogous to a checkup. We need to be constantly reminded just how weak we are without the Lord. If everything was always wonderful, would our love for God be unconditional, like His is for us, or would it begin to grow conditional on the goodness in our lives? After a while, would we even give thanks to God anymore at all, or might we begin to reason that we've created our own fortunes of our own accord?
As humans, we are conditioned to see the good as a blessing and the bad as a curse. Is it not true, however, that sometimes the opposite is the case? The bad keeps us humble, while the good makes us prideful. The bad makes us temperate, while the good makes us gluttonous. The bad nurtures our virtues, while the good grows our vices.
That is not to say that we ought to reject and run from the good things of our life. Good provides us with goodness because He wants our joy to be complete. (Jn 16:24) That complete joy, however, comes not from ourselves or even from the things He provides. It comes from God and being one in God. We can only be in God when we offer up our sufferings and pain as a testament to our complete dependence on His Providence. Suffering does not necessarily mean that we are being punished. In the Book of Job, God allows the devil to test the righteous Job with all manner of disasters to him and his family in order to prove that his love for God is not a product of the things God provides but rather an unconditional love. Like Job, we too can sometimes be weak in the face of adversity and wonder whether God is just and loving. But just as Job repents and trusts in the Lord, we too can come to see that our suffering is purposeful in that it bring us closer to God!
Even Jesus asked, in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Father that He remove His suffering. (Lk 22:42) In Jesus, we have our most clear example of the necessity and power of pain and suffering. Ultimately, Christ offered us His pain to the Lord, and, in so doing, opened the gates of Heaven to us. May we strive to accept our suffering with as much thanks to God that we accept our happiness.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Live Jesus in Our Hearts...Forever
Today is the feast of St. John Baptist de La Salle. If you did not attend a Lasallian school like I did, chances are you have never heard of La Salle, who is the patron Saint of teachers. The following bio is from the website of the order he founded, The Brothers of the Christian Schools:
John Baptist de La Salle was born into a world very different from our own. He was the first son of wealthy parents living in France over 300 years ago. Born at Reims, John Baptist de La Salle received the tonsure at age eleven and was named Canon of the Reims Cathedral at sixteen. Though he had to assume the administration of family affairs after his parents died, he completed his theological studies and was ordained a priest on April 9, 1678.Two years later he received a doctorate in theology. Meanwhile he became tentatively involved with a group of rough and barely literate young men in order to establish schools for poor boys.
At that time a few people lived in luxury, but most of the people were extremely poor: peasants in the country, and slum dwellers in the towns. Only, a few could send their children to school; most children had little hope for the future. Moved by the plight of the poor who seemed so “far from salvation” either in this world or the next, he determined to put his own talents and advanced education at the service of the children “often left to themselves and badly brought up.” To be more effective, he abandoned his family home, moved in with the teachers, renounced his position as Canon and his wealth, and so formed the community that became known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
John Baptist de La Salle was a pioneer in founding training colleges for teachers, reform schools for delinquents, technical schools, and secondary schools for modern languages, arts, and sciences. His work quickly spread through France and, after his death, continued to spread across the globe. In 1900 John Baptist de La Salle was declared a Saint. In 1950, because of his life and inspirational writings, he was made Patron Saint of all those who work in the field of education. John Baptist de La Salle inspired others how to teach and care for young people, how to meet failure and frailty with compassion, how to affirm, strengthen and heal. At the present time there are De La Salle schools in 80 different countries around the globe.
In Lasallian schools, we begin each class with a short prayer that I still try to recite several times a day. It can help us to remember that we are never alone:
John Baptist de La Salle was born into a world very different from our own. He was the first son of wealthy parents living in France over 300 years ago. Born at Reims, John Baptist de La Salle received the tonsure at age eleven and was named Canon of the Reims Cathedral at sixteen. Though he had to assume the administration of family affairs after his parents died, he completed his theological studies and was ordained a priest on April 9, 1678.Two years later he received a doctorate in theology. Meanwhile he became tentatively involved with a group of rough and barely literate young men in order to establish schools for poor boys.
At that time a few people lived in luxury, but most of the people were extremely poor: peasants in the country, and slum dwellers in the towns. Only, a few could send their children to school; most children had little hope for the future. Moved by the plight of the poor who seemed so “far from salvation” either in this world or the next, he determined to put his own talents and advanced education at the service of the children “often left to themselves and badly brought up.” To be more effective, he abandoned his family home, moved in with the teachers, renounced his position as Canon and his wealth, and so formed the community that became known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
His enterprise met opposition from the ecclesiastical authorities who resisted the creation of a new form of religious life, a community of consecrated laymen to conduct gratuitous schools “together and by association.” The educational establishment resented his innovative methods and his insistence on gratuity for all, regardless of whether they could afford to pay. Nevertheless De La Salle and his Brothers succeeded in creating a network of quality schools throughout France that featured instruction in the vernacular, students grouped according to ability and achievement, integration of religious instruction with secular subjects, well-prepared teachers with a sense of vocation and mission, and the involvement of parents.
In addition, De La Salle pioneered in programs for training lay teachers, Sunday courses for working young men, and one of the first institutions in France for the care of delinquents. Worn out by austerities and exhausting labours, he died at Saint Yon near Rouen early in 1719 on Good Friday, only weeks before his sixty-eighth birthday.
John Baptist de La Salle was a pioneer in founding training colleges for teachers, reform schools for delinquents, technical schools, and secondary schools for modern languages, arts, and sciences. His work quickly spread through France and, after his death, continued to spread across the globe. In 1900 John Baptist de La Salle was declared a Saint. In 1950, because of his life and inspirational writings, he was made Patron Saint of all those who work in the field of education. John Baptist de La Salle inspired others how to teach and care for young people, how to meet failure and frailty with compassion, how to affirm, strengthen and heal. At the present time there are De La Salle schools in 80 different countries around the globe.
What has always impressed me about Saint La Salle is his total devotion and submission to the will of God. He came from a wealthy family, yet he sacrificed his wealth to join the priesthood. The Saint's own words on his life are inspiring:
“I had imagined that the care which I assumed of the schools and the masters would amount only to a marginal involvement committing me to no more than providing for the subsistence of the masters and assuring that they acquitted themselves of their tasks with piety and devotedness ... Indeed, if I had ever thought that the care I was taking of the schoolmasters out of pure charity would ever have made it my duty to live with them, I would have dropped the whole project. ... God, who guides all things with wisdom and serenity, whose way it is not to force the inclinations of persons, willed to commit me entirely to the development of the schools. He did this in an imperceptible way and over a long period of time so that one commitment led to another in a way that I did not foresee in the beginning.”Our Lord doesn't reveal his complete plan to us all at once, for he knows that few would be able to overcome the fear and doubt that fills the human heart when it is asked to take a leap of faith in service to the Kingdom of God. Rather, our Heavenly Father shepherds us incrementally, as he did to much success with Saint La Salle.
In Lasallian schools, we begin each class with a short prayer that I still try to recite several times a day. It can help us to remember that we are never alone:
Let us remember...that we are in the holy presence of God.
Saint John the Baptist de La Salle...pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts...forever!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)