Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 8.djvu/515

 JOHN

449

JOHN

ereign Pontiff, he always signed himself Roman Prie.it. "Hold fast to what is of faith", he writes to the Brothers; "shun novelties; follow the traditions of the Church ; receive only what she receives ; condemn what she condemns; approve what she approves, either Ijy her Councils or by the Sovereign Pontiffs. In all things render her prompt obedience ". He was even eager to go to Rome to cast himself at the feet of the pope and request his blessing for the institute. How- ever, not being able to go himself, he sent Brother Gabriel Drolin to establish a school there in 1700. Even the consolation of seeing his rule approved by the Holy See was denied the saint, for he had been ■dead nearly six years when, on 2(3 February, 1725, Benedict XIII, by his Bull, "In apostolicoe dignitatis solio ", placed the seal of approbation upon the insti- tute, empowering the members to teach and explain Christian tloctrine, and constituting them a religious congregation.

The last years of de la Salle were spent in close re- tirement at Saint- Yon. There he revised his rule before giving it to Brother Barthelemy, the first supe- rior general. During the last days of his life he showed the same spirit of sacrifice which had marked his earlier years. In Holy Week of 1719, he gave unmis- takable signs that the end was near. On Holy Thin-s- day, at the request of Brother Barthelemy, he blessed the Brothers assembled at his bedside, and gave them his last words of counsel. His final words were: " In all things I adore the will of God in my regard." On Good Friday morning, 7 April, 1719, he breathed his soul into the hands of his Creator. He was canonized by Leo XIII, on 24 May, 1900. His feast is cele- brated on 15 May.

The principal writ ings which he has bequeathed to his spiritual children are: " Conduite des ^coles " (1717), a treatise on pedagogic method, presenting fundamental principles in a scientific manner. It is remarkable that the methods herein given have not been consid- erably changed since the time of its author, and that the principles laid down are as applicalile to-day as when they were written. " Les Regies de la bienseance et de la civilite chretiennes ", is a vohmie written in 1695, and used as a treatise on politeness and as a text in the reading of manuscripts. The style is simple and direct. It contains excellent rules for cul- tured manners. "Les devoirs du Chretien" (1703), a simple and precise exposition of Cliristian doctrine, is remarkable for its accuracy, and for the practical les- sons it inculcates. It was intended as a reader and a catecliism. It still retains its place in many schools and colleges. "Recueil de differents petits traitfe a I'usage des Freres des Ecoles Chretiennes" (1711) is a noteworthy treatise, stating in remarkably simple terms the fundamental principles of the religious life. It abounds in Scriptural quotations and is a valuable guide for persons striving after perfection. "Explication de la m^thode d'oraison" (1st printed ed., 17.39). In point of clearness and adaptation, this method of mental prayer is eminently suited to the needs of the Brothers. It appeals to every degree of capacity, for all can find therein the spiritual food necessary for their special condition and state of per- fection. "M&litations pour le temps de la Retraite" (1st printed ed., 1730), written for the exercises of the annual retreat, and, combining the principles of the spiritual life with pedagogics, tends to promote the Christian Apostolate in the school. These medita- tions contain some of the soundest principles of peda- gogy ever enunciated. " Mc^ditations pour tons les Dimanches de I'ann^e, avec les Evangiles de tous les Dimanches; Meditations pour les principales fetes de I'ann^e" (Rouen, 1710?), is an epitome of spiritual doctrine, based upon the Gospels of the year and ap- plied to the needs of the teacliing profession and the principles of the religious life. This treatise reveals the greatness of de la Salle and shows him to be a VIII.— 29

man of deep religious conviction. His language is al- ways simple, direct, and vigorous.

The spirit of de la Salle has even permeated other religious families, either in giving them a special char- acter or suggesting their rules. Thus, the Brothers of St. Gabriel, founded by Blessed Grignon de Mont- fort and M. Deshayes, in 1795 and 1S21; The Broth- ers of Christian Instruction of Ploermel. founded by J.-M. de Lamennais, in 1816; The Brothers of Chris- tian Doctrine of Nancy, founded by Father Fr^chard, in 1 S 1 7 ; The Little Brothers of Mary (Marists), founded by Pere Champagnat, in 1817; The Brothers of the Sacred Heart of Paradis, founded by Father Coindre, in 1821; The Brothers of the Society of Mary, founded by Pere Chaminade, in 1817; The Brothers of the Holy Family, founded by Brother Gabriel Ta- borin, in 1821; The Brothers of the Cross of Jesus, founded by Pere Bochard, in 1824; The Clerics of St- Viateur, founded by Pere Guerbes, in 1829; The Con- gregation of the Holy Cross, founded by M. Moreau and M. Dujarris, in 1835 ; The Congregation of the Holy Ghost and the Sacred Heart of Mary, founded by Father Liebermann, in 1841; The Brothers of Mercy, founded by M. Delamare, in 1842; The Christian Brothers of Ireland, founded by Brother Ignatius Rice, in 1805; and the Institute of the Sisters of the Christian Schools of Mercy, founded by Ven. Julie Postel, in 1S02 — all exemplify in the character of their work and in the rules adopted, a striking simi- larity to the methods and aims proposed by Saint John Baptist de la Salle in founding the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

Blain, Vie de M. Jean-BapHste de la Salle (Rouen, 1733); Cakron, Une Vie (Paris, 1885); Idem, L' Esprit et les Vertus du bienheureux J.-B. de la Salle (Paris, 1890); The Spirit and Vir- tues of Bl. J.-B. de la Salle (Tours, 1895); Garreau, Vie de M. J.-B. de la Salle (Paris, 1825); Montis, Vie de M. J.-B. de la Salle (Paris, 1875); Carron, Le Tendre Ami des Enfants du Peupte (Lyons. 1828); L'Ami de VEnfance (Lille, 1831); Le Veritable Ami de VEnfance (Paris, 1838); Durozier, L'Abbe de la Salle (Paris, 1842); Salvan. Vie de M. Ven. de la Salle (Tou- louse, 1852); Ayma.. Vie deM.de la Salle (,Aix,185S); Lucahd, Vie du Ven. de la Salle (Paris, 1876) ; Ravelet, Vie du B. J.-B. de la Salle (Paris. 18SS) ; Gaveau, Vie de M. de la Salle (Paris, 1883); Life of M. de la Salle (Italian) (Rome, 1888); Krebs, Lebcn von J.-B. de la Salle (Ratisbon, 1859); Guibert, His- toire de Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (Paris, 2nd ed.. 1901); Idem. Vie et Vertus de S. J.-B. de la Salle (Tours, 1901); Delaire, Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (4th ed., Paris, 1902) ; Bainvel, Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (Paris. 1901); Guibert, Renou- vellement religieux (Paris, 1903); Idem, Doctrine spirituelle de Saint J.-B. de la Salle (Paris, 1900); Brother Noah, Life and Work of the Ven. J.-B. de la Salle (New York, 1878); Wilson. The Christian Brothers^ their Origin and their Work (London, 1883): DE Doncourt, Remarques Historiques (Paris, 1773); Feller, Dictionnaire Historique (Paris, 1797) ; Cerf, Maison oil dut nattre le B. J.-B. de la Salle (Reims, 1870) ; Chevalier. Les Freres des ecoles chretiennes (Paris, 1887); Ravelet-O'Meara, The Life of Bl. J.-B. de la Salle (Tours, 1888) ; Bonvallet, Sur la Noblesse de la Salle in La Revue de Champagne (December, 18SS); Pin de la Gderiviere, Les a'ietds matemels du Bien- heureux J.-B. de la Salle (Reims, 1897); Knecht, Leben von Johan Baptist de la Salle (Freiburg, 1S79); Speil, Der Heilige Johannes Baptista de la Salle und seine Stiftung (Kaufbeuren, 1907) ; Hubert, Leben von Johan Baptist de la SalleiMainz, 1887) ; LtjCARD, Annates de VInstitut des Frh-es des Ecoles Chretiennes (Tours. 1883); Constantius (M. M. Graham) in Am. Calh. Re- view (iixXy, 1900); iDEM.inCofA. World (.\ugust, 1900); Bedel, La Vie du Rev. Pierre Fourier (Paris, 1666) ; Arnold. The Popu- lar Education of France (London, 1861); Saint-Simon. Me- moires (Paris, 1886); Alain, L' Instruction primaire avant la Revolution (Paris, 1881); Arnould, Notes et Documents sur les Etablissements d Instruction Primaire de la Ville Reims (Reims, 1848); B.\beau, L'Instruction Primaire dans les campagnes avant 1789 (Paris, 1896); BuissoN, Dictionnaire de Pedagogic (Paris, 1887): Rendu, Del' Instruction Publique (Paris, 1819); Barnard, De VEnseignement elcmentaire en France (Paris, 1894); H. Barnard. Ncyrmal Schools and other Institutions (Hart- ford): JuSTlNUS, The Educational System of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in France; Report of the Commissioner of Edu- cation (Washington, 1898-1899).

Brother Constantius.

John Baptist de Rossi (De Rubeis), Saint, b. at Voltaggio in the Diocese of Genoa, 22 February, 1698; d. at Rome, 23 May, 1764; feast on 23 May. His parents, Charles de Rossi and Frances Anfossi,were not rich in earthly goods, but had solid piety and the es- teem of their fellow-citizens. Of their four children