St. John Baptist de la Salle: Patron of Teachers
The saint of the day for April 7 is St. John Baptist de la Salle, father of modern education and the patron saint of teachers. He is known for promoting and reforming Christian education, especially among the poor. John Baptist de la Salle was born at Rheims in France in 1651. After ordination to the priesthood, he devoted himself to the education of boys and the founding of schools for the poor. He liquidated his personal fortune (about $400,000) and donated it to the poor in the form of bread during the great famine of 1683-1684. He Instituted the process of dividing students into grades and established the first teacher's school. He started high schools and trade schools. John brought his companions together as a religious congregation, founding the order known today as Christian Brothers. He suffered from asthma and rheumatism in his later years and died at Rouen in 1719 on Good Friday. He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1900 and named patron of teachers by Pope Pius...