Others

Concept (Thesis)
Even though De La Salle became the Canon of the Archdiocese of Reims, he got involved with
Adrian Nyel and some young teachers to give free Christian education to the street children of Reims. He
believed that he and his coordinators were involved in Gods own work of salvation for others.
For De La Salle, the need to care for others was not a response of an individual. Instead, he saw
the importance of community as an essential to the response of being an apostle to others. One example of
this is his establishment of Christian schools. These schools were effective in carrying out De La Salles
mission because they share the association in working for the cause, with prayer and its experiences.
Hence, the creation of the identity of a Brother among the coordinators and the entire community, for
they work hand in hand like a family for the call.
De La Salle also stressed out to view others in the light of faith. May it be rich or poor, sinner or
saint, ally or enemy, he emphasized to recognize each other as beloved children of God, siblings of Christ,
and as a temple of the Holy Spirit as written in the Scriptures. This perception of others will lead to us
the acknowledgement that we are a family.Furthermore in one of his teachings to the young teachers, De
La Salle said Recognize the person of Jesus beneath the rags of the children. This is due to his
familiarization with Christs description of the Last Judgement, wherein Jesus identified Himself with the
hungry and the homeless, the sick and the imprisoned.
Being declared as the patron saint of teachers, Saint John Baptist de La Salle found his passion in
teaching the youth and poor quality education. Saint John Baptist de La Salles perspective of education
helped most of the children who can not afford education. Although he came from a wealthy family, he
put his talent in good use and abandoned his family to create a community for the teachers. He trained his
colleagues in the field of education, and inspired them how to teach and care for the youth. For him, the
concept of education of poor children is a form of charity to help others who cannot help themselves.

Problems Faced (Anti-Thesis)

Since De La Salle was assumpt as the Canon of Reims, he was confronted with an intersection of
continuing as a Canon, to retain prestige and as a member of the wealthy and upper class or to be together
with his peers to continue his mission for others.
In the final years of De La Salles life, the institution and himself experienced the realities of life,
most of them were not uplifting at all. De La Salle and the Brothers lost several lawsuits in Paris;
personnel problems affecting a number of small communities; some clerics who were supportive for De
La Salles institute were now against or even hostile to it. Numerous criticisms arose from these
problems, even drives to close down the schools were created. Also, some Brothers started to blame De
La Salle of these adverses.

In Mende, a Brother named Medard influenced the Brothers in this community to live an easy
way of life and to create social contracts with the wealthy in the town. When De La Salle learnt of this, he
spoke to these brothers, but he was unsuccessful.
Saint John Baptist de La Salles compassion towards teaching also brought him mental struggles
because his whole attention was devoted to his domestic affairs.He was very drawn into the concept of
poor. Crossing the social boundaries was difficult for him and for his relatives to bear. It came to the point
when his social class was scandalized, and that it was thought he was carrying the gospel too far.
Solution
De La Salle responded in faith, hope and love, choosing this mission instead of continuing as a
Canon. He believed that it is for the greater glory of God the service of the Church, (his) own higher
perfection, and the salvation of souls. He accepted it as a mission from Christ and the church, which
was entrusted to the coordinators and himself.
In the midst of these controversies, De La Salle contemplated that these realities meant to him not
only on the level of human wisdom, but is actually on a level of faith. So, after taking a fruitful journey,
he decided to transfer authority and leadership to another member. He learned to have trust in the
institution he founded on, that the community of helping and teaching others will live on.
Despite of this, De La Salle simply prayed, and furthermore called that the spirit of faith
empowers us. He encourages us to transcend our emotions and reason, to view all people, equally, on the
plane of faith. Not only attitudes will be greatly enhanced, but it will develop a more positive outlook of
ourselves as persons of dignity, worth and value.
Although De La Salle had struggles, he believed that his passion for helping others was what God
wanted him to do. He moved to the poor part of the city, wherein he had a handful of teachers that he later
called brothers. He believed with what God wanted him to be. He served the poor and even used his
familys inheritance to feed the poor during severe famine. He depended on God alone when everything
seems to be against him. His faith for God and the people he was helping was very strong that people
admired him for his conviction.
References
About DLS. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dlsfootsteps.org/about/dls.php
About St. John Baptist de La Salle. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lasalle.org/en/who-are-we/stjohn-baptist-de-la-salle/
Bragado, E., & Baldwin, E. (1993). The Charism of St. John Baptist De La Salle. Manila, Philippines:
De La Salle University Press.

Catholic Encyclopedia: St. John Baptist de la Salle. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08444a.htm
St. John Baptist de la Salle. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/LASALLE.htm