The story of St. John Baptist De La Salle is truly inspiring as ever.
Growing up in a rich and affluent family, he left the comforts of luxury for a more fulfilling life in service of God as Andre discovers.
The film starts during the period of his life when he was starting to build the first La Salle School.
Contrary to the norms of the time, and against the will of his family members. He proceeded on to go against the flow, to strive for his mission of helping people. Attending to the affairs of the institution that he has established. He extended his utmost hospitality to the first Lasallian brothers and considered them part of his family even sheltering them into his own home. It is very clear that his family was against his desire to build a school for the poor, but his mind is set. And to help kickstart the school he sold his share of the family estate.
In due time, France was on the brink of war and hunger was rampant. But St. John Baptist De La Salle still strived in teaching up to until the last parcels of food on the coffers became empty, and his fellow disciples have abandoned their duties.
Having gained a name all over France, the church has given La Salle endowments to him and his disciples increasing their capability of continuing their mission of educating the poor.
Discovering the state of the education system in the outskirts of Paris, he intends to reform the education system that exploits the poor students. And in doing so he was viewed as a threat to the current schooling of the time. The school officials even conspired to destroy his school and burning it down. But it did not deter him. It even bolstered his reserve to want to expand his schools.
Remaining in Paris and deterring the dismissal of his order, he strived to continue on his mission to educate together with his brothers.
In order to protect the order and deflect harm that he may draw, and at the same time tend to his illness he traveled away from Paris so that his Lasallian mission may continue on with their mission.
A while passed, when another challenge for the Lasallian mission presented itself then the french judicial courts decided that St. John Baptist De La Salle was guilty of influencing a minor for his own gain and profit, in retribution the Lasallian brothers were forced pay the settlement. With the Lasallian order in trouble, the brothers sought to bring St. La Salle back to Paris for his guidance.
Knowing that the institution is in good hands, he passed away surrounded by his fellow brothers.
St. La Salle saw through the class distinctions between men viewing real wealth as the ability to think and feel. Through faith, zeal, and communion st. La Salle was to spark a movement that saw through his dream of creating hundreds of schools all around the world.
As Lasallian students, we are gifted with real wealth through the efforts of the Lasallian educators and brothers.
Today, the Lasallian schools offer grants to the brightest minds of every generation that presents itself, even if they may come from the poorest of households they are given the best education available. An example of these grants: 1.) Star Scholarship., 2.) St. Mutien Marie Scholarship., 3.) Vaugirard Scholarship., 4.) Br. Andrew Gonzalez Academic Scholarship., and many more.
References:
Grants, De La Salle University