Article
Founded in 1680 by Saint John Baptist de La Salle, then canon at Rheims, France. The rule, drawn up at Rouen c.1705, was approved by Pope Benedict XIII in 1725. The society was suppressed in France in 1792, and re-established by Pope Pius VII in 1805. A superior-general, residing at Lembecq-lez-Hal, near Brussels, and twelve assistants, govern by a system of delegated visitors. The founder, struck by the pitiful ignorance of the poor, undertook the work of gratuitous elementary education. As only a religious congregation could furnish a permanent supply of educators teaching without compensation, the institute was formed of young men attracted by the religious life to take the three usual vows but not Holy Orders. They add also vows which attach them permanently to the education of the poor, specializing as catechists. To the founder is due the division into classes corresponding with the various stages of mental development. This “simultaneous method” was then a complete innovation in pedagogy. He also introduced the use of the vernacular for teaching reading, and his successors made further improvements, varying the application of their methods from time to time. Boarding schools were established, differing somewhat from the free schools. The religious, dispersed by the French Revolution and reduced to 20 active members, were restored to community life by the authorization of Napoleon, and they have continued to multiply and flourish, not without reverses, to the present time. The institute suffered its severest blow when the legislation that abolished teaching by religious in France closed 1285 establishments of the Brothers from 1904 to 1908. In that same period, however, 222 new foundations were made outside of France, in Europe and the Levant, England, Ireland, North and South America, the West Indies, Cape Colony, and Australia. Their large schools in India and China are supported by government grants. In the United States the society has flourished since 1846, and in Canada there are 66 houses. The district of New York, which is the most important, comprises 38 establishments, including Manhattan College and the De la Salle Institute.
Profiled Members
- Blessed Louis Rafiringa
- Blessed Philip Rinaldi
- Blessed Scubilion Rousseau
- Blessed Solomon le Clerq
- Saint Aniceto Adolfo
- Saint Augusto Andrés
- Saint Benildus
- Saint Benito de Jesus
- Saint Benjamín Julián
- Saint Cirilo Bertrán
- Saint Jaime Hilario Barbal
- Saint John Baptist de La Salle
- Saint Marciano José
- Saint Miguel Febres Cordero Muñoz
- Saint Mutien Marie Wiaux
- Saint Victoriano Pío
- Venerable Alberto José Larrazábal Michelena
- Venerable Alejandro González Blanco
- Venerable Andrés Merino Báscones
- Venerable Antonio Solá Garriga
- Venerable Celestino Ruiz Alegre
- Venerable Eleuterio Angulo Ayala
- Venerable Eleuterio Mancho López
- Venerable Emiliano Santamaría Angulo
- Venerable Eugenio García Tribaldos
- Venerable Evencio Castellanos López
- Venerable Félix Redondo Olivares
- Venerable Germán Arribas y Arribas
- Venerable Graciliano Ortega Narganes
- Venerable Gregorio Álvarez Fernández
- Venerable Guillermo Álvarez Quemada
- Venerable Ignacio González Calzada
- Venerable Joaquim Oliveras Puljarás
- Venerable Joaquin Rodríguez Bueno
- Venerable Juan Antonio de Bengoa Larriñaga
- Venerable Juan Lanz Palanca
- Venerable Juan Lucas Manzanares
- Venerable Lázaro Ruiz Peral
- Venerable Lorenzo Ontañón Rey
- Venerable Luis Herrero Arnillas
- Venerable Manoel José Sousa de Sousa
- Venerable Manuel Miguel Sánchez
- Venerable Martín Arbé Barrón
- Venerable Maximino Serrano Sáiz
- Venerable Miguel Solas del Val
- Venerable Modest Pamplona Falguera
- Venerable Pablo Díaz de Zárate y Ortiz de Zárate
- Venerable Patricio Beobide Cendoya
- Venerable Pedro Bruch Cotacáns
- Venerable Ramiro Frías García
- Venerable Saturnino Sanz y Sanz
- Venerable Teodoro Pérez Gómez
- Venerable Vicente Angulo García
- Venerable Vicente López y López
MLA Citation