In Chapter One of I, John Baptist de La Salle, entitled, "Roots and Wings," the author speaks in the perspective of De La Salle, telling us of his upbringing and the initial spark that led De La Salle from the "clerical" duties of the priesthood to the founding of something that he "wouldn't have touched the project with the tips of [his] fingers" if he knew where it would lead him (Kirby 21).
In a well-developed paragraph, due by classtime on Wednesday, March 11, I would like you to give a personal response to the beginnings of De La Salle's story. Questions to consider:
- What are some observations about his early life that strike you as interesting or odd?
- What defines "vocation" according to what you read of De La Salle's early life?
- How does De La Salle experience God in his life according to the voice of Brother Leo Kirby, FSC, who wrote the essay in the persona of De La Salle?
- How does De La Salle's early life and call to the priesthood and later to the mission asked of him by Adrien Nyel parallel an Old Testament story of God's call to a prophet? (be specific)
- Why is De La Salle relevant to your own life today? From the little you've read, what about his life could you make relevant to your own?
- What was the role of suffering in shaping De La Salle's knowledge of and approach to everyday life?
If you should at all refer to something in the text, please format as follows: Speaking as the person of De La Salle, Bro. Leo Kirby, FSC, writes, "Adrien Nyel, who later became a good friend of mine, was by experince and nature an originator of projects. I guess he was the spark; I was the bush he set afire. Together, I think, we made a pretty good team" (Kirby 21).
The above quote is placed in quotation marks with an introductory phrase (Bro. Leo Kirby, FSC, writes...) and is cited with the last name of the author and the page number from which you took the author's quote in parantheses, followed by a period.
In order to respond on this blog, you will click the header, I, John Baptist de La Salle, and then click the "post comment" link at the bottom of this prompt. You will then type your response with a heading that is formatted as follows:
Your Name
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
27 comments:
Chad Goldman
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 10, 2009
I was surprised to know he lived in a upper class life. He still loving to the as a upper class life child. St. La Salle still reflects his youth later in his life. I was mainly shock to hear of his large (10 children) family he had to play the roll of parent over.
Michael Uranker
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
What are some observations about his early life that strike you as interesting or odd?
Some observations about his early life that are interesting are that even through the rough parts of his life, such as his parents death, he still focused on being a teacher and a priest. He focused on prayer and his university studies. He took time to make decisions about his life and figure out wear it was heading. Another observation is that all through his life he thought about religion, such as reciting prayer with his grandfather or leaving home to study priesthood. He always had a call to become a religious teacher. Pg. 18
Cam Brown
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rell 011.06
March 11, 2009
I found it interesting that De La Salle had numerous brothers and sisters in his family. In his early life in Rheims, De La Salle lived in a Christian atmosphere, meaning several things in that time period could be called a vocation to him. He says that he enjoyed praying with his grandfather when he was young. When De La Salle was 19, he had hoped to become a judge, but had the slightest feeling of becoming a priest. He compares this feeling to being something like the rustling of a gentle breeze. This is similar to Elijah and his experience with God as a gentle breeze as opposed to mighty and powerful entities. At a young age, De La Salle is faced with many tragedies, such as the death of his parents and a sister. He says that this suffering kept him from being in an artificial life of priesthood. This time of pain and depression could be compared to Jeremiah's pain as he became the prophet for a nation that was falling apart.
Stephen Stuthers
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 10,2009
There are a few things that i found a kind of interesting about Lasalles childhood years. First Speaking as the person of De la Salle, Bro. Leo Kirby,FSC, writes, "As a child i enjoyed the excitement of the city. I took great pleasure in watching the parades in honor of saint Remi after the pestilence of 1659" (Kirby 14). When i thought of Saint La Salle as a kid i thought of him as a very studious person who never realley left his house and was always kind of a nerd. i found out theat he tiked excitement and he even looked down on the poor when he was a kid. Second Speaking as the person of De la Salle, Bro. Leo Kirby,FSC, writes, " I had ten brothers and sisters" (Kirby 15). The other thing i was surprised by is the size of the family. dthe familys are about double the size as they are today.
Thomas Shea
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
Speaking as the person of De La Salle, Bro. Leo Kirby, FSC, writes, "I guess you could say that my parents had given me both roots and wings." Obviously, this is an important part of the book thus far because roots and wings is the name of the 1st chapter which marks the beginning of De La Salle's spiritual journey. But it also has a deeper meaning. It gives a thorough reflection on how he went from a joyous life full of prosporous gifts to a sad young man struggling to move on to the important things in life. It was thus rapid turn of events that caused him to realize who he really was and it also gave deeper meaning to his priesthood. And through all of this, he still had to raise up 10 siblings and guide them to successful lives of their own. The "roots" show the positive environment that he was brought into. His family didn't act like most rich snobs and made God an important part of their lives, and they wanted the same from him. It was important that he had this holy outlook at a young age or he may not have turned into the man that he would soon become. He went from a simple prayer leader to a domiant religious figure of the 17th century; why can't more of us turn small steps into giant bounds like he did? meanwhile, the "wings" came to him during the not-so-good times, the times where he himself took the reigns of almost everything. This leadership would contribute to his later role as a teacher. He never left anyone for dead, no matter how bad his own situation at hand was. All of this hard work for others became one of the many positive attributes of his current reputation. He has experienced both happiness and suffering, and his outlook on both would make him the man he is today.
Alex Slowik
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
Speaking as the person of De La Salle, Bro. Kirby, FSC, writes, "Of the seven children who lived, I was the oldest, and I had a great deal of responsibility thrown upon me early in life. Some people claimed I was too serious for a little boy, but I was not able to play and have a goodtime all day long. Frequently I had to mind my brothers and my sisters and sometimes help the in their studies". In these few sentences it gives away why he became a saint and religious preacher. Instead of playing and being a kid, Saint John Baptist was very discipline and devoted his childhood hepling others such as his seven brothers and sisters. Speaking as the person of De La Salle, Bro. Kirby, FSC, writes, " We lived in a very religious atmosphere in our country", which I think influenced his way of life by being a religious model for all and showing how to devote your time to help someone else in need.
Patrick Doyle
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 10, 2009
i was surprised with the size of his family and his wealth, but also that he always had an affinity for teaching. i thought that this was very interesting because i guess i never thought about him as a younger man. i also think that it's an interesting fact that he did enjoy the upper class. in my old school, we were taught that saints were basically perfect and that they always were, for example, humble. it's just a whole new perspective.
Vaughn Franz
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
march 10, 2009
I find it interesting that he was serious as a child and that he looked after his brothers and sisters. This may be one of the factors that led him to become an educator. I also found it interesting how socially conscious he was for being a part of the upper classes. Also the loss of many of his close family members at such a young age may have had an influence on his life particularly his seriousness. It was also interesting that he opposed the priests who considered themselves as a clerical elite among the church. I think this is interesting because it would be easy to put the priests on a pedestal because of the nature of their profession. His years of youth were very interesting and you can see the correlation between some of the events in his life and what he became.
Matt Dougherty
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
Saint John Baptist de la Salle seems to have had a good family that experianced the struggles of renaissance life. He lost 3 siblings at a very young age and his parents died fairly early also. He was the oldest child and by the time he was 21 he was the guardian of his brothers and sisters. St. John Baptist de la salle grew up very fast and was known as being a serious child. He may have a appeared grim at times but i believe he took his faith and reverence to heart. His education earned him a position in the church early on in his life. He was faced with a growing responsibility for his priestly duties. St. John Baptist de la salle saw a system that refused the poor. He realized there were kids like him but who had greater problems and without the education they would remain in poverty and suffering.
Teddy Larkin
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
In chapter 1 of John Baptist de La Salle I noticed many different aspects of his early life that struck me as interesting or odd. In the region of Champagne where John lived there was champagne served on the table every day of the week, he was an active boy and liked the city because there was more to do and learn, and more people to meet, he was taught by his grandfather to recite prayers. It seemed interesting that he was the most responsible and oldest of the children. This reminds me especially of my own older brother because even though there are only 2 people in my family he is told he is too serious, always has to watch out for me, and helps me with my studies even today.
John did not believe his life was very spectacular and he says speaking as the person of De La Salle, Brother Leo Kirby,FSC, writes, "I didn't meet the famous people of that age, and I played no part in the events that took place in it" (Kirby 16). This statement shows such modesty and humility just as when he says he never became famous like the saints as his grandmother wished him to be since he was one of the most influential men of his age to the Catholic Church.
He enjoyed being able too read to those children who could not read or write even when his fellow upperclassmen looked down on the poor with contempt and liked that the poor could not read or write.
At the age of 11 he received a tonsure which is a ceremony of cutting off some hair off of the top of the head symbolizing the young boy was destined to be a priest. He did not know what the priesthood really was then but when he was 16 he became more serious about it when his uncle gave him the job of publicly reciting the official prayer of the church. He enjoyed this because he liked to pray and brought back memories of his grandfather.
At 19 he felt Gods call for him to become a priest. It was a silent call, more like a whisper than a shout. When he was 20 both of his parents died and he became the head of his family and was also on his way to a career in the priesthood. He was able to overcome his parents death and responsibilities and is thankful the way things played out in his life because he believes he was going to become a snob priest if he hadn't.
Adrien Nyel was a gypsy who was the spark that set him (the bush) on fire, making them a good team. Adrien helped get John involved in work to the slums and street-smart kids. He considered this part of his life the incarnation years where he incarnated himself with the poor of this world.
Jordan Edmunds
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
One of the main things I found interesting was the way his family was raised, how young and how large it was. Saint John was the oldest of ten brothers and sisters. He was left to care of seven siblings due to four deaths, at the age of twenty-five, after his parents passed away. Even at the age of ten, he helped take care of them. Another thing I found odd about Saint John was the way he was seen around his community. People saw him to be serious all the time or the kid who never had fun, he was not able to play or have fun all day. Also at the age of eighteen his already achieved a master's degree. These are somethings I found interesting or odd about Saint John Baptist de La Salle.
George Tsounos
Bro.Rob Peach,FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
How does De La Salle experience God in his life according to the voice of brother Leo Kirby,FSC, who wrote the essay in the persona of DeLa Salle?
One of the ways De La Salle experience God in his life was reciting prayers with his grandfather. Also his parents where educated Christians and lived in a Christian atmoshere of not only family but society also. One way Salle experienced god was age 11 he received a tonsure which is a ceremony of cutting off some of his hair from the top of his head symbolizing that a yong boy had a destined to become a priest. Another way he experienced God was when his uncle publicly reciting the offical prayer of the Church. Salle states that God made use of Adrien Nyel to get me involved with the work.
Chris McNulty
Bro. Robert Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
I found it interesting that de La Salle grew up in a wealthy, upper class family, but that he was able to give up the only life he knew to become a brother. Even after the death of his father, mother, sister, and brother, he still gave up everything to his name so that he could fully immerse himself in the Brotherhood. Finally, I also find it surprising that he had to take the roll of the patriarch of his family at the age of 21. In modern times, someone who is 21 would only be a junior in college, and would probably rather be having fun at college rather than caring for his brothers and sisters.
Conor Coleman
Bro. Rob Peach FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
Saint John Baptist de La Salle, born April 30, 1651, grew up in the Golden Age of the Great Monarch, and although this was a time of economic prosperity, it was also a time of a settling religious turmoil. Growing up in such a time, John Baptist was often surrounded by religion, mostly that of christians. Saint John Baptist's exposure to christianity in his neighborhood, school and home, helped plant the seed for a deeply religious life. This strong connection with his faith allowed Baptist to overcome the many tribulations of his early life, such as the death of both his parents and sister and the institutionalization of his brother into a mental hospital. These tragic events, along with his strong faith and determination, fueled Saint John Baptist to further his devotion to the church by becoming a priest.
Alex Hooper
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
St. John de la Salle grew up in a good house but right after a religious war so things weren't exactly ideal. He was in the upper class and looked past the poor people early in his life. Later, he met some friends and they changed his outlook on poor people and then he had compassion for them. He knew for a long time that he had a vocation to priesthood. He had a very good education and he got his masters. He had a very dark and sad period of darkness in his life-his mother died and his father died within a year of each other-leaving it up to him to take care of the family. He did a good job of that and he set up many schools for those who couldn't read or write. St Johns life shows me i should see Jesus in all people and be generous to others.
Micael Sestric
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
I found it interesting that St. John Baptist De La Salle lived an upperclass life and was still able to relate to people that he considered "below" him. I was able to relate to him in the way that he had a very special relationship with his grandfather which lead him closer to God and his faith. Something that suprised me about him was how he kept his great love and faith for God even after all of the tradgities that occured when he was in his twenties. I was also suprised to see how openly he treated taking up a vocation. Most people this day in age give it a considerable amount of thought, however he seemed to accept it as something he was called to do from birth.
Francesco Speziali
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11, 2009
I think that having been the oldest of eleven kids, and therefore almost like another parent gave John great patience and understanding early in his life. This wisdom is what allowed him to make good adult like choices, and follow through in his studies and do what was expected of him. I think that for this reason, the death of his parents and the trajedies of his siblings did not emotionally destroy him, but rather he was able to cope with these events and move on. Finally, I think that because of how he realized he had this emotional advantage during adolescence, he chose to help others, especially poor children, by building Christian schools.
Kris Sabatini
Bro Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 11 2009
I toke some surprises from the first chapter of this book. As someone who taught poor kids, he grew up in a rich family. It seemed weird that he was told to become a priest. He was not "called" to become one. It is pretty noble of him to raise his 10 siblings.
John Yost
Bro. Peach
Rel 011.06
I think that one of the oddest things were him growing up in a wealthier family because it seems to me that whenever a saint is wellknown for helping the poor this person then was once.
I do think that he had a very tragic life and that it must have been hard trying to raise his brothers and sisters after this had just happened to him. This also I think made him stronger as a person in life and in faith.
To him I believe he thought of vocation as a cooling breeze or a feel ing inside of yourself that you can't quite understand.
His help with the poor and in education have been well documented and will be coming up in the next few cahpters which should be very interesting to read.
Jack Treado
Bro. Rob Peach, FSC
Rel 011.06
March 12,2009
I observed some very interesting things when reading this book. First,it interested me that St. La Salle loved to pray with his grandfather in Church at such a young age. It seems that St. La Salle was a pious person even at the beginning of his life he felt an urge at 19 years old to become a priest or some type of clergy member. This is interesting because usually people at that young age are not interested in such serious matters, but St. La Salle was. another interesting thing was St. La Salle was so set on becoming a clergyman, he gave up a life of wealth to pursue his goal. This is quite different from the choice most people would have made.
St. John Baptist De La Salle wasn't poor but he wasn't rich. As a child, he was very snobbish to the poor. Until later in his life, his friends turned him against his old ways, making him respect the poor. I find this snobbiness striking because of the greatness and light St. John brought to his "misson", let alone to the whole ideal of catholicism. Early in John's life, he always was passionate about being a priest. His parents, luckily for John, were wealthy enough to send him to college, to get a full, well-rounded education. De La Salle's parents, who passed within a month of each other, brought darkness to John's life, due to the agony and heavy heart because of his parents' deaths. He was left as the parent figure for his family. All in all, St. John's story is truly inspirational. His devotion and self-commitment to the church not only show through the work he did, but the ideal catholic character he represented.
Pat Quirin
Bro. Rob Peach
Rel 011.06
March 11 2009
After reading the first chapter, Roots and Wings, about St. John Baptist de La Salle I have learned allot about his life. Even though he was born into a wealthy family and had what most would think of as an "easy life," his life was actually very hard. With the death of his parents he was unwillingly given the task of taking care of and providing for his family. On top of the death of his parents some of his siblings also died. So to see him face so many challenges and to conquer them is amazing. It is also amazing how he did not stop trying to become a priest while there was so much chaos and confusion in his life. The way that he ended up helping to teach the youth in his county was also incredible. He never judged anyone and had time for everyone. I also think it is kind of funny that he admitted he would have never stared helping the youth if he new how hard it were going to be. Overall St. John Baptist de LA Salle I one of the most amazing saints ever.
I was surprised to find that St. De La Salle could live in the conditions he did. Although he lived during the Golden Age, and came from a wealthy family, he still had much more responsibility than other people his age because he had to raise his six syblings. On top of having some responsibility for his brothers and sisters, his parents died when he was only 20 years old. This must have been very hard for him, especially because he was very close to his family. He must have been very mature and strong to get through such a dark time in his life, and then take on even more responsibility. This change in his life may seem impossible to cope with, but he did it, and continued to take on more respobsibility, unknowingly working towards his vocation. He was able to become a priest and take care of his family when another tradegdy struck. when he was twenty five years old, his sister in the convent died, and his youngest brother had to be sent to a mental iinstitution. After so much death in his family, the death of the syblings he had cared for must have been devistating to him. Still, in all this tradgedy and darkness, he was able to move on. Throughout the first twenty five to thirty years of his life, all his experiences were slowly pulling him towards his vocation to serve God. It did not happen at once. There was no sudden turning poing, but a gradual, subtle change occuring over a long period of time, like the rustling of a gentle breeze. This is similar to Elijah's call to become a prophet.
In La Salle's early life I was suprised to here that he often drank wine daily as a child. It strikes me as odd because in our day in time that is rarely seen in America. I was also suprised to here about the sudden change he had to make from son to father after his parents suddenly died. He said "This changed my life. Still, I had my brothers and sisters, and my father had made everything official by naming me the legal guardian of both the family and our property." This must have been difficult for him but he performed the task, and that may be one of the many true reason why he is a saint.
I was trippin over the fact that he was sometimes ignorant to the lower class, didnt seem right and i didnt understand. Moving on from that, i was also kinda surprised on how he was wealthy. Well no him but his parents. Even though most things were good, he also went through some tough times, like his parents death. so i guess going through the good and bad at the same time really made him who he was and inspired him to be a religious man and the person he was for the rest of his life.
Ryan A.Smith
JohntheBaptistdeLaSalle was talking about the teaches he sheard with the others about the bible and like how to treat each other,also how to get to were God,Jesus,and the Holy Goast is at.
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