Catholic Education: De La Salle Style!

St. John Baptist de La Salle

St. John Baptist De La Salle in his Meditations for the Time of the Retreat outlined sixteen guidelines for the Brothers to following in educating the children. Today's blog will focus on number three: "That those who teach the young are cooperators with Jesus Christ in the salvation of souls."

Why do we need Catholic schools when there are free public schools just down the street? Why don't the Catholic parishes just support their local public schools instead of the spending a lot of money, time, and effort in running schools?

De La Salle explains it pretty well in his Meditation for the Time of Retreat; it is for the "salvation of souls." We as Catholic educators are there to be cooperators with Jesus Christ in procuring the souls of our students for salvation. That is the mission we have chosen. We aren't doing this work for a paycheck because if that's the case, the public school pay is much better not to mention their benefits. We would leave what we are doing and apply with the public school system if money was our reason for choosing the field of education.

We are not only cooperators with Jesus Christ but students of Jesus Christ through the study of the Gospels. We know Jesus and model his examples with our students and peers. We have to walk the walk of Christianity.  Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying." Catholic school educators walk the walk of Jesus Christ. Our actions must be positive and an example of who Jesus is.

How do we do this? This is accomplished through love, service, compassion, zeal, and much more. De La Salle explained it in the The Twelve Virtues of A Good Teacher. The virtues are a topic for another blog. For now, we as Catholic school educators need to be the best examples of Jesus Christ we can be so that our walk leads our students in their walk with Christ.

Another opportunity we have to bring our students closer to Christ is through prayer. We pray for and with our students many times each day. Prayer isn't there just in the morning or in a moment of silence. Prayer is a constant part of our day as is Mass, Rosary, Adoration, Reconciliation...

Why am I in Catholic education? I'm here because I believe in Catholic education. I believe that Catholic education is important not only for Catholic students but for all students even those who aren't Christians. My superintendent in Memphis, Dr. Mary McDonald, would always say, "We don't teach them because they are Catholic.We teach them because we are Catholic."

I would want nothing less than Catholic education for my own children. I have watched their faith flourish while being Catholic school students. I have seen what a difference it has made in their lives and the difference they are making in the lives of others. I have been very luck to be a part of this faith growth. In bringing my students closer to Christ, my life is a journey of faith in progress.

God bless you,
Didier Aur

Source: The Brothers of the Christian Schools
http://www.lasalle2.org/English/Resources/Publications/writings.php