Born in Reims, France to aristocratic parents, De La Salle had the opportunity for an excellent education. He was expected to do great things and at the early age of 11, received the tonsure and started preparation for the priesthood. When he was ordained at 27 and became the Canon of the Reims Cathedral, he seemed assured of a life of dignified ease and respect.
 
After a chance meeting with Monsieur Adrien Nyel, Jean became interested in the creation of schools for poor boys in Rheims, where he was stationed. Though the work was extremely distasteful to him at first, he soon determined to put his own talents and advanced education at the service of the children “often left to themselves and badly brought up.” To this end, Jean left home to live at the school, renounced his position as canon at Rheims, gave away his fortune, and reduced himself to the level of the poor whom he taught.
 
He began training a group of young men as teachers, thus founding the Order of the Christian Brothers. John successfully introduced several new educational methods (instruction in the vernacular, students grouped according to ability and achievement, integration of religious instruction with secular subjects, well-prepared teachers, and the involvement of parents), and he established colleges for training teachers.
 
His success in training delinquent and underprivileged boys provoked bitter opposition from secular schoolmasters, who resented his emphasis on Christian values; ignoring his critics, John urged his teachers to treat their students with love and compassion, making time for them and being concerned for their spiritual well-being.
 
John Baptist de La Salle suffered from asthma and rheumatism in his last years; he died on Good Friday in 1719.
 
This print is part of the "Happy Saint" collection by Anna Morelli.
 
The image is professionally printed, hand-signed by the artist, and comes enclosed in a plastic sleeve to ensure protection.