Do you instruct those for whom you are responsible with the attention and Do you instruct those for whom you are responsible with the attention and the zeal God asks of you in so holy a work? By your good conduct, be worthy of this distinguished role. Act in such a way that your life may begin today to be holy, and edifying and continue to be such in the … Read More
Photo by Rosie Kerr on Unsplash To whom ought we to give ourselves if not to the One from whom we have received everything. … This thought and the gratitude we owe him for all his goodness to us ought to have frequently occupied our minds and touched our hearts during this year. – St. John Baptist de La Salle[1] Have you ever noticed that the most grateful people we know are those … Read More
Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash Example makes a much greater impression on the mind and the heart than words, especially for children … They are led more readily to do what they see done for them than what they hear told to them. – St. John Baptist de La Salle[1] October 13th will see the canonization of John Henry Newman here in Rome, where I am right now for a couple of … Read More
Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash Applying ourselves to the presence of God is a most useful practice; be faithful to it. – St. John Baptist de La Salle[1] There has been a lot of press over David Brook’s new book, The Second Mountain. In one section, he talks about how “grace” is, or becomes, a part of our lives. Grace, he says, is not the result of a rational … Read More
The remembrance of God’s presence will be a great advantage in helping you and in inspiring you to do all your actions well. – St. John Baptist de La Salle[1] Like De La Salle himself, we keep coming back to that central, shimmering, pregnant insight about remembering God’s presence in all that we see, do, and pursue. Christ dwells in the midst of the daily tasks, encounters, decisions, and experiences … Read More
All you need and all God wants of you is that you remain in his presence. – St. John Baptist de La Salle – [1] The quotation above is from one of the few letters that we have from the thousands that De La Salle wrote. While it is only one sentence out of a long letter – and the letter’s tone is definitely 17th century French spirituality – … Read More
I do not like to make the first move in any endeavor. … I leave it to Divine Providence to make the first move and then I am satisfied. When it is clear that I am acting only under the direction of Providence, I have nothing to reproach myself with. When I make the first move, it is only I myself who am active, so I don’t expect to see … Read More
Be convinced that, provided you are willing, you can do more with the help of God’s grace than you imagine.” – St. John Baptist de La Salle – Why is it that this particular educational vision and approach–what we call Lasallian education–has stood the test of time, going strong 340 years down the line. What is it about this unique educational movement that has allowed it, has driven it, to … Read More
The more you act with simplicity in regard to what is to be observed, the more the practice of it will become easy for you. – St. John Baptist de La Salle [1] For those of you who have been to Disneyland – and not just for a quickie visit, but for that multiday, multipass, parkhopper sort of visit – you will relate to my recent experience of its … Read More
You have to suffer a constant martyrdom that is no less violent for the spirit than Saint Bartholomew’s was for his body. You must, so to speak, tear off your own skin, which Saint Paul calls the old man, in order to be clothed with the Spirit of Jesus Christ, which is, according to the same Apostle, the new man. Let this, then, be your effort throughout your life, so … Read More