These reflections come from a reflection booklet prepared as part of a final class project by the students enrolled in the class "Great Ideas: De La Salle" taught by Brother Walter Schreiner at St. Mary's University of Minnesota during the Spring 1998 semester.

Jill Arens

Saint John Baptist de La Salle's simple practice of making himself and those around him aware of God's presence at every moment was a central aspect of his life. This practice was emphasized by Burkhard through the character of Bro. Jacques Delanot with his words, "I knelt beside my bed and tried to remember the presence of God as he [De La Salle] had so often told us to do. Peace finally overcame my troubled heart." As students, almost every class begins with a form of De La Salle's practice with the words: let us remember we are in the holy presence of the Lord. In busy everyday life, though, it is often very easy to forget that we are always in the presence of God. Reflecting further on De La Salle's life, one sees the great importance of taking the time to pray, rely on Divine Providence and try hard to understand and follow God's will. De La Salle's own quiet reverence and reliance on God's Providence was outstanding and something that we should all work towards, but for one to give up that much control to God is almost inconceivable for us today. To give up everything and still believe that God will provide with no safety net from this world like money, a secure job or a comfortable lifestyle is truly beyond the boundaries of ordinary faith. When we realize God's ever-presence and turn everything over to him as De La Salle did, is when peace can and will come over our hearts.

Katie Boller

John Baptist de La Salle lead a life centered on three aspects that he felt fundamental in living a Christian life. His faith was demonstrated as he allowed his life to be guided by Providence. De La Salle always strove to follow the will of God, trying always to do as God wished and not what he wanted. De La Salle built a community of Christian Brothers who were dedicated to serving those who were poverty-stricken and gravely uncared for by their society. De La Salle's three facets of faith, community, and service have inspired, not only modern members of this society of Brothers, but also men and women who see these characteristics as the center of Christian life.

Lisa Brandt

St. John Baptist de La Salle,

A man of Providence

In a world of self-preservation.

Searching his heart,

For the will of the Lord who lives within,

He finds the peace that's locked inside.

Nicole Esplan

De La Salle inspired me most with his deep love for children and his active role in providing the children with guidance and caring in order to make their environment and future a little brighter.

De La Salle believed that when God has made you a guide and guardian of young children, He has entrusted you especially with the care of the children's souls. With the children's souls, you need to have patience, gentleness, and discretion in scolding and corrections. If you do not watch over these children, you must realize that, because these children are not able to guide themselves, you will be just as accountable for their faults as they.

Matt Ginskey

After this class, John Baptist de La Salle has become an inspirational character of history for me due to his leadership abilities, to his commitment to excellence in education, and to his unyielding and motivation faith in God.

St. John Baptist De La Salle

Pray for us.

Live Jesus in our Hearts

Forever.

Before a few months ago the words above meant very little to me. I said them out of pure rote memorization, and had little association to why I said them or to whom exactly I was referring. John Baptist de La Salle was a figment of my imagination. I knew not who he was, what he stood for, how he lived his life, or what he had accomplished during his time on Earth. He was merely a man that was mentioned following a time of prayer that was a memory trigger for the response "Pray for us". After having taken the Lasallian class (appropriately named) about John Baptist de La Salle these words now have new meaning to me. De La Salle was a man dedicated to the education of the less fortunate and proceeded to accomplish his goal through rigorous course material and an emphasis on God. His establishment of the Christian Brothers was an accomplishment that continues to show its effects today, but not a task that came without many pitfalls. De La Salle continued to follow his mission of education despite these hardships and also successfully lead his followers, who deeply believed in both his ideas on education an in his strong faith in God, to spread the education of the Brothers. I have gained a new meaning and respect for 'John Baptist de La Salle', and also for the man John Baptist de La Salle. This enlightenment has come thorough my learning of his leadership, excellence in education, and faith. I can now only pray that others may learn about him and come to know him as I have.

Michelle Harrison

The works, faith, and intentions of John Baptist de La Salle are best described in this passage from the preface of "The Rule of Christian Decorum and Civility." "Still, it is this Spirit (the Spirit of Jesus Christ) alone which should inspire all our actions, making them holy and agreeable to God." Every aspect of his life was devoted to doing God's will. De La Salle showed his devotion to Christ through his dress, his Christian Brother ministry, his love, and most of all, in his belief that Providence would provide. He never made any important decision without praying and asking God what to do. Interior prayer and meditation were integral parts of De La Salle's ministry because it was a time for the soul to make holy and dedicate itself to God. He trusted that the Lord would help him make the right decision and take care of him. Jesus Christ told his apostles to spread the good news, and that is precisely the devotion of De La Salle's life.

One of the most important lessons I learned from studying John Baptist de La Salle is to put my complete trust in the Lord. If it is his will, it will be done.

Bob Horihan

God has blessed us with a rather peculiar gift: the absence of perfect foresight. Near the end of his life, De La Salle remarked that he would never have gotten involved with the Brothers of the Christian Schools had he known the full scope of the endeavor. How many people, if they had known beforehand the difficulty involved in following the road they chose for themselves, would have pursued such a path? Many probably would have shunned away from the trials and dilemmas that lay before them, fearing the pain of difficult situations or the self-recriminations of supposedly wrong choices. But God, in the Divine Wisdom, conceals such information from us, so that we may not be discouraged and put off by the road ahead. And in the end, despite the hazards and the problems – or, perhaps, even because of them – we do, indeed, bear great fruit.

Adam Iadipaolo

Saint John Baptist de La Salle is an inspiring example of burning charity for the sake of all humankind. This young priest only sought to do God's will even though he was financially well off. God called De La Salle to serve others by educating youth and the most remarkable aspect of his life was the determination he showed by giving up his whole life and placing it in the hands of God. De La Salle was Christ for others in a very concrete way. By living a life of poverty and devoting his life to educating poor children he demonstrates to us that the love of God is transforming. By saying yes to God, De La Salle's life was forever changed. The reason for such a transformation was his reliance upon Divine Providence. Even though he no longer owned anything, De La Salle trusted in God to take care not only of himself, but the other brothers as well as all the schools he founded. Let us learn from the love found in the heart of John Baptist De La Salle to always pray for God's direction and to be open to the transforming love of God in our lives.

Jessie Johnston

The one thing that I will always remember about De La Salle is his passion for educating children. By educating children, we create a better future not only for ourselves but also for our children who through education will find Jesus Christ. This belief is exemplified by a powerful quote from Beyond the Boundaries. "If we can lead them beyond the boundaries that enslave them, then the world will become a brighter place, and people will live closer to justice, closer to happiness, and closer to peace."

Travis Leeser

I think that De La Salle's philosophy of life can be summed up in the following sentence from the First Meditation for Time of Retreat: "Not only does God will that everyone come to the knowledge of truth, but He wants everyone to be saved." Jean Baptiste de La Salle's life exemplified this. He spent almost his whole life in the pursuit of educating all children, especially the poor, in academic and spiritual ways.

Merridith Morrison

Through his love, hard work, and unfailing charity, De La Salle brought hope to those who needed hope most – the children of poor families too poor to watch over and school their children. De La Salle, with courage, accepted his calling with Providence as his guide. Although in some brief moments he felt unworthy, he defeated those that would oppress him and his teachings. This courage and compassion gave light to many people – the unfortunate that desperately needed a tangible, loving guardian; those that follow in his teaching, and those that are touched by those that follow his way. God blessed us with the opportunity to know such a man whether it be during his lifetime, or through those that he has touched.

"Saint de La Salle, watch over us with a loving heart and guiding eyes so that we may gain the courage to make wrongs right and the compassion to help those that need that loving touch."

Tadd Moriarty

The life of St. John Baptist de La Salle is an example of the call that God gives to all men and women to be teachers. Each person is called to be a teacher by the way they live their life and are examples to others, for examples and acts leave a greater impression than words ever can. Even though there are different gifts and different ministries, all that is accomplished must be for the common good, the good of the church. Whether we are members of a religious community or laity, we must first concentrate on living according to the teachings of Christ, then become living examples to others. The example of De La Salle can be a model for all who are willing to accept the call of God and live a life dedicated to serving all with zeal.

Brian Nelson

Saint John Baptist de La Salle was a man of great vision and trust in the Lord. In the everyday struggles of his new order to exist, De La Salle was a voice of extraordinary trust in the providence of God. De La Salle was able to remain faithful to the teaching mission that he received in the founding of the Christian Brothers. There were many times when it was only the vision of the future that De La Salle held on to and the trust that God would provide, even in the hour of greatest need, that kept the brothers faithful to their call. It is not an easy task to maintain this tremendous trust in the plan of God in the face of trial and failure. John Baptist de La Salle was able to maintain this trust amidst his own doubts, thus bringing to the world the gospel message through the teaching schools of the Christian Brothers.

Daniel Rech

"John Baptist de La Salle, with Christ in the heart and on the mind, you bettered the lives of children . Pray for us that we may reflect your life and help the under-privileged children of the world."

The hope of the world lies in the innocence of childhood. People be warned that fragile is the child and fragile is their purity. For the old, all hopes for a better future are found in children. And with the holy, there is an understanding of how to foster this hope. John Baptist de La Salle recognized this hope. He gave his fortune to foster the well being of children and the well being of the future. He gave his heart, his mind, and his health, to follow the will of God. He gave himself to his brothers that they may do the same as he. He gave his life for the Kingdom of God. May people not forget the importance of this. May they remember him and his message, and together follow his example on building the kingdom of God.

Darren Row

Saint John Baptist de La Salle was a man of reflection and action. De La Salle wrote rules and topics for daily meditations and meditations for time of retreat. Everything is possible through God. God provides us with the things we need to overcome daily obstacles. We can learn what we are to do with the things God gives us through meditation. We are to use the gifts He gives us for the good of others. God calls us to action. De La Salle was a man of action. He concerned himself with and dedicated his life to the work of the Christian Brothers which he himself founded. He set up schools for children who otherwise may not have received an education. Saint John Baptist de La Salle is a man I look to as a model of service and spirituality.

Angela Schimek

I admire John Baptist de La Salle because of his deep faith and stick-to-it-ness in the mission he received from God, his willingness to pray in the midst of great trials, and his consistent belief in Providence. This man is truly remarkable.

John Baptist de La Salle is more than a Brother, leader, priest, or saint. What makes him special for me is that he is a very human character with problems and doubts. Everyone leans on him and he leans on God through prayers that last from dusk till daylight. Even though he has many titles, the one I give him is ... friend.

Corey Sievers

If John Baptist de La Salle were here today I think he would tell those of us who are struggling with our faith to trust in God. De La Salle lived his life by the rule of Providence, even when it seemed foolish to do so. If we examine our own lives and prioritize the things that are of utmost important to us, God will take care of us. De La Salle examined his own life and those of the Brother's with daily meditations. I often find myself caught up in school and social events while I neglect my faith in God. John Baptist de La Salle led a life of constant journeying and at times he seemed to be lost. It is those times when we feel lost that we actually start to understand who we really are and what purpose to serve in life. If you feel confused and do not know what life will be like after college is over, do not worry. You are probably on the way to find out who you are and how you will live your life.

Joanne Tibble

"You have been called by God to this ministry and you have been given the grace of teaching and the gift of exhortation for the sake of those entrusted to your responsibility."

---John Baptist de La Salle

The teaching profession is an important one and John Baptist de La Salle realized this point. To him, teaching was not a job but rather a responsibility. A teacher had the responsibility of assisting in a child's intellectual and spiritual growth. This concept is the heart of a Lasallian teacher. The Lasallian teacher is one who has a concern for the student's overall well-being including but not limited to their intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional and social well-being.

Also, John Baptist instilled in the teachers the fact that they had been given the grace of teaching from God. It is through this gift of teaching that a teacher answers his call from God and begins to realize the power he has to touch an individual. The teachers who bring intensity, passion, and challenges into the classroom are the teachers who care about the whole of an individual. These teachers are Lasallian teachers.

Scott Welch

Upon reading Beyond the Boundaries by Leo C. Burkhard, FSC, I was taken on a journey into the world of Providence. "He (Father de La Salle) had told me (Jacques Delanot) that Providence was the loving care that God takes of his creatures. It was the way God arranges events in our lives for our own good even though we don't always see it his way." This sums up how De La Salle looked at life, and what a wonderful way to view it! It is reassuring to know that God takes care of us; we have so much to be thankful for. Trust in God is all an individual needs in this life.

Brother Walter Schreiner

o John Baptist de La Salle did not set out to found the Christian Brothers for the purpose of conducting schools. I start with my life an open book before me.

o De La Salle was led to his life's work through small steps as he responded in faith to the various situations that he was presented with. I too can respond in faith to the situations I encounter in life.

o De La Salle prayed often and long for the grace to know God's will in his life. I can also pray for the purpose of discovering God's will for me.

o De La Salle had a profound sense of the continuing presence of God in and about him. I too can reflect often on the presence of God in and about me.

o De La Salle encountered numerous obstacles throughout his life and suffered much opposition and rejection, and was even stripped of his priestly faculties as he lay on his death bed. I too encounter obstacles, opposition, and rejection in my life.

o De La Salle experienced discouragement and self-doubt in his life. I also experience discouragement and self-doubt in my life.

o De La Salle had complete trust in God's Providence. I too can trust in God's Providence.

o De La Salle is a saint. I can be a saint.

o I am all of us.