Welcome to the traditional Catholic daily devotional for Thursday, May 15th, 2025,

is the Feast of St. John Baptist de LaSalle, third class with the color of white.

In this episode, The Meditation, Our Christ Life.

Today's news from the church, hopefully with the 14th plans to visit Nicaea,

a preview of the sermon bearing wrongs patiently, and today's thought from the Archbishop.

But first the colleagues of today's Mass, O God, who raised up the Holy Confessor John

Baptist for the Christian education of the poor, and to strengthen youth in the way of truth,

and through him formed a new family in the church, graciously grant by his intercession and

example that we, striving to save souls out of zeal for your glory, may be found worthy

to share his heavenly crown.

When you think of saints, you might not picture a man designing lesson plans or building a training college for teachers,

but that's the kind of legacy John Baptiste de LaSalle left behind.

Born into French lope nobility in the 1600s, John seemed destined for prestige.

Tonsured at age 11, a priest by 27, he was on track for a quiet, dignified life in the church.

But God had something different in mind. It started with a chance meeting. A man named Adrian Niles

needed help starting a school for poor boys. John agreed to assist, just for a little while,

but once he saw the need and potential, he threw himself into this work completely.

He resigned his position as a canon, gave away his fortune, moved in with the poor, and started a brotherhood devoted to education.

These weren't private schools for the elite.

John's Christian brothers taught street kids, working-class boys, and delinquents.

He pioneered classroom methods still used today and opened the very first training college for teachers.

Of course, it wasn't easy.

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