Saint of August 25: San José de Calasanz. Catholic Santoral

Every August 25 the Catholic Church celebrates San José de CalasanzSpanish priest and educator. Calasanctius, as he was known, was a great defender and propeller of education at a time when studying was a privilege.

Precisely, the saint founded the first free public school in Europe, an educational proposal that replied giving rise to the so -called ‘Pious Schools’. He was also founder of the order of the poor regular clergy of the mother of God of the Pious Schools, whose members are known as “Escolapios”.

“You received it, give it free”

José was born in Peralta de la Sal, Aragon (Spain), on September 11, 1557. His parents were Don Pedro de Calasanz – who became mayor of Peralta – and Doña María Gastón. Thanks to them he received a careful education from the home, for which he acquired a wide culture, from a very young age, and a solid Christian formation. Subsequently he attended the local school of Peralta, where he continued his studies.

At sixteen he expressed his desire to be a priest. Initially his father did not agree: the death of the mother and the older brother of Joseph made Don Pedro think that the boy had to take care of the administration of family assets and perpetuate the last name.

Providentially, time would change their minds to Don Pedro, so that José was able to study philosophy and canon law at the University of Lleida; and then theology in the universities of Valencia and Alcalá de Henares.

In 1583, with 25 years, José would be ordained a priest. It was sent to the Seu d’Urgell (Seo de Urgel), in the province of Lleida, near the Catalan Pyrenees. At that time Urgel was a convulsed region because of banditry. José spent some years there, in which he had to face a period without bishop, by vacant headquarters. They were difficult years in which he served as secretary of the Cathedral Chapter, and in which he also had the opportunity to know the needs and deficiencies of many people.

In 1591, he moved to Rome, in search of a different pastoral horizon, encouraged by the idea of ​​making ecclesiastical career there.

The pious schools: that no child stays without studying

In Rome he did not find what he expected. However, he did not lose hope and kept thinking about doing something for the church and the people in need. Fr. José had always been a pious man, given to prayer, and his circumstances forced him to make his trust in God and the Blessed Virgin even more.

When he began to tour the streets and neighborhoods of the eternal city, he saw how many children were abandoned to their fate, without receiving what he had received: first, education; And then, a friendly treatment and a faith. This experience was the germ of the creation of “pious schools”, open to all, free, conceived in the light of the Gospel. Those that Fr. Calasanz founded in those days would be the first public schools – of European matrix – in Europe.

Once Fr. Calasanz had mature ideas, began to seek support and financing for his schooling project. Unfortunately nobody could support him. Therefore, in 1597 he asked to use the sacristy of the parish of Santa Dorotea in Rome – located in a poor area of ​​the city – and there he personally began to teach.

With the passing of the months, the “pious schools” were increasing, and with it the number of students also grew. Fortunately, the number of collaborators also increased, who began to be called “Escolapios”. It would be with that initial group of collaborators with which San José would form the order of the regular clergy of pious schools, exclusively consecrated to education.

Put the child at the center of the educational process

After checking the good results and the magnificent management of schools, the Escolapios received the support of the Holy See, as well as that of many accommodated families who wanted to participate in the initiative.

“In Rome I have found the definitive way to serve God, doing good to the little ones, and I will not leave him for anything in the world,” said San José de Calasanz.

“Well, from childhood, the child is diligently imbued in piety and letters, he has to foresee, based, a happy course of his entire life” (San José de Calasanz, PIAS SCHOOLS CONSTITUTIONS1622).

In a message addressed to the Escolapios in 2007, on the occasion of the 450 years of the birth of its founder, Pope Benedict XVI said: “In the center of the educational work he (San José de Calasanz) placed respect for the personality of each child, in which he recognized the image of Christ.

San José de Calasanz died on August 25, 1648 in Rome, at 90. He was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clemente XIII, and in 1948 Pius XII declared him “employer before God of all Christian popular schools in the world.” His great work, pious schools, are today distributed on the five continents.

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If you want to know more about San José de Calasanz, you can read this article of the Catholic encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_José_de_Calasanz.

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