Patron Saint of Teachers: St. John Baptist de la Salle

The patron saint of teachers is St. John Baptist de la Salle (1651–1719), the French priest who gave up his wealth and position to found the Brothers of the Christian Schools and is honored as a father of modern education. Pope Pius XII named him the patron of all teachers in 1950. Other saints watch over Catholic schools, students and educators too, from St. Thomas Aquinas to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Below are their stories, a teacher’s prayer, prayers for teachers and students, and the feast of St. John Baptist de la Salle on April 7.

A short prayer to St. John Baptist de la Salle, written for this page:

St. John Baptist de la Salle, you gave your life to teaching the young, especially the poor.
Pray for all teachers, that they may teach with patience, knowledge and love,
and see Christ in every student.
St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us. Amen.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, patron saint of teachers

John Baptist de la Salle was born in Reims, France, on April 30, 1651, the eldest son of a wealthy, noble family. At sixteen he was made a canon of Reims Cathedral, and he was ordained a priest in 1678. A chance meeting with a layman who wanted to open schools for poor boys drew him, almost against his will, into the work that would fill his life. He took in a few rough, untrained schoolmasters, taught them, lived with them, and in 1684 gave away his fortune to the poor during a famine so that he could share their poverty.

From this small community grew the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the De La Salle Christian Brothers, a congregation of religious brothers dedicated entirely to teaching. De la Salle changed the way children were taught:

He grouped pupils into classes by ability and taught them together, instead of one at a time.
He taught in French, the language of the children, rather than in Latin.
He opened free schools for the poor, Sunday schools for young workers, and schools for boys in trouble with the law.
He founded some of the first colleges to train teachers, and wrote handbooks on how to run a school.

He met with fierce opposition from rival schoolmasters, lawsuits and even some of his own brothers, but he persevered. He died at Saint-Yon, near Rouen, on Good Friday, April 7, 1719. Pope Leo XIII canonized him in 1900, and Pope Pius XII declared him the patron of all teachers in 1950. The Lasallian schools and universities he inspired now teach over a million students in about eighty countries.

The Brothers begin their prayers with his words, “Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God,” and close with “Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!”

Other patron saints of teachers and education

St. Thomas Aquinas (January 28), patron of Catholic schools, universities and students. See the St. Thomas Aquinas prayer.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (January 4), who founded the first free Catholic school for girls in the United States, patron of Catholic schools in America. See the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton prayer.
St. Joseph Calasanz (August 25), founder of the first free public schools in Europe, patron of Christian schools.
St. John Bosco (January 31), who taught and trained poor boys in Turin, patron of young people and apprentices. See the St. John Bosco prayer.
St. Angela Merici (January 27), founder of the Ursulines, the first teaching order of women.
St. Catherine of Alexandria (November 25), patron of philosophers, students and teachers. See St. Catherine of Alexandria.
St. John Henry Newman (October 9), co-patron of Catholic education. See the St. John Henry Newman prayers.
St. Katharine Drexel (March 3), who founded schools for Native American and Black children. See St. Katharine Drexel.

Prayers for teachers

Written for this page.

A teacher’s prayer

Lord Jesus, Teacher of teachers, you taught with patience, stories and love.
Through the prayers of St. John Baptist de la Salle,
give me wisdom to know what each student needs,
patience on hard days, fairness in every judgment,
and joy in the work you have given me.
Let my students learn from me not only what I teach, but how to live. Amen.

A prayer for teachers

God our Father, bless the teachers of our children.
Give them strength and energy, protect them from discouragement,
reward their care and sacrifice, and let them know how much good they do. Amen.

A prayer for teachers and students at the start of the school year

Holy Spirit, bless this new school year.
Fill our teachers and students with curiosity, kindness and perseverance,
keep our school safe, and help us all to grow in wisdom and grace. Amen.

Scripture for teachers

The promise to those who teach (Daniel 12:3):

But they that are learned shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity.

And Christ’s welcome to the young (Matthew 19:14):

But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.

Feast day

The feast of St. John Baptist de la Salle is April 7, the day of his death; it is a memorial in the universal calendar. Before 1969 it was kept on May 15. Lasallian schools around the world celebrate it, and many hold a Founder’s Day in his honor.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the patron saint of teachers?

St. John Baptist de la Salle, named patron of all teachers by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Who is the patron saint of educators?

The same saint. St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Henry Newman and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton are also patrons of Catholic education.

Who is the patron saint of students?

St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron of students and schools; St. Joseph of Cupertino is invoked before exams.

More patron saints

Texts and sources

Daniel 12:3 and Matthew 19:14 (Douay-Rheims).
Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “St. John Baptist de la Salle,” public domain (Wikisource).