In his meditations, John Baptist de La Salle liked to remind the Brothers, and therefore all of us today, that we are examples for the children and young people entrusted to us. He reminds us here that by virtue of our job, our function, whatever it may be in the establishment where we are, we are ‘obliged’ not only to ‘teach the class’ but to ‘teach them the truths of the faith’. These truths are rooted in Christ.

They culminate in the love of our neighbour, because to love our neighbour is to love Jesus. Saint John Baptist de la Salle would not have put it this way, but this is what he asked of the Brothers in relation to the children entrusted to them. Saint John Baptist de La Salle knew that it was not enough to learn French or algebra for a child to grow and develop. From that time on, he had the intuition that they needed to be educated, and even that they needed to be led along the right path, the path of God, the path in God. For him, learning French, mathematics and other subjects was already inseparable from education in Truth, Love and Hope.

And for that, he asks the Brothers to be models and never to give up on this dimension of being, and on the importance of teaching children the ways of Salvation by what he calls ‘learning their religion’. Today, we could talk about the importance of teaching children the paths to salvation, the paths where they can find their path to success, their personal fulfilment, their well-being, the paths where they will be happy and on their feet. The last two questions are, as usual, powerful. They invite each person to engage in personal introspection. Was I prepared to be this tireless educator today with the children and/or young people entrusted to my care? Have I had the strength to turn to Him to find the right words and help each one finds the right path? Have I recognised Christ in those entrusted to me today? Have I dedicated my day to them?