St Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, Priest, Religious, Founder and Confessor: Missa “Os justi“
St Jean-Baptiste de La Salle was born on April 30, 1651, in Reims, France, into a devout and well-to-do family. Destined for the clerical state, he was ordained a priest in 1678 and earned a doctorate in theology in 1680. Though poised for a comfortable ecclesiastical career, his life took a radical turn when he encountered a group of lay schoolmasters struggling to educate poor boys.
Moved by divine inspiration, he resigned his canonry, gave away his inheritance, and devoted himself entirely to the formation of teachers and the education of the poor — a revolutionary move for the time. In 1681, he founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Fratres Scholarum Christianarum), the first religious congregation composed solely of laymen dedicated to education.
St Jean-Baptiste introduced innovative pedagogical methods: simultaneous instruction, classroom discipline rooted in Christian charity, and vernacular teaching rather than Latin. His educational vision united intellectual formation with spiritual growth, cultivating Christian virtue in his students.
Suffering opposition from ecclesiastical authorities and internal hardship, he remained faithful to his mission until his death on Good Friday, April 7, 1719. Canonised in 1900 by Pope Leo XIII, he was later proclaimed Patron of Teachers by Pope Pius XII in 1950. His feast is celebrated on May 15 in the traditional calendar.
INTROIT Ps 36:30-31
Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua ejus loquétur judícium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsíus. Allelúja, allelúja. Ps 36:1 Noli æmulári in malignántibus: neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem. V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen. Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua ejus loquétur judícium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsíus. Allelúja, allelúja.
COLLECT
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. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.
EPISTLE Sir 31:8-11
Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus. Happy the man found without fault, who turns not aside after gain, nor puts his trust in money nor in treasures! Who is he, that we may praise him? For he has done wonders in his life. He has been tested by gold and come off safe, and this remains his glory forever; he could have sinned but did not, could have done evil but would not, so that his possessions are secure in the Lord, and the assembly of the Saints shall recount his alms.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. Jas 1:12 V. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life. Alleluia. Eccli 45:9 V. The Lord loved him and adorned him; He clothed him with a robe of glory. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 18:1-5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child to him, set him their midst, and said, Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such little child for My sake, receives Me.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 88:25
My faithfulness and My kindness shall be with him, and through My name shall his horn be exalted. Alleluia.
SECRET
We offer You sacrifices of praise, O Lord, in memory of Your Saints; trusting that by them we may be delivered from both present and future evils. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.
PREFACE of Easter
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially in this season when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 24:46-47
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, he will set him over all his goods. Alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Refreshed with heavenly food and drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we also may be helped by his prayers in memory of whom we have partaken of these gifts.Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.