Celebrating the proclamation of Saint John Baptist de La Salle as Universal Patron of Educators —by Pope Pius XII, on 15 May 1950—is an occasion to “draw” from the sources of Lasallian spirituality, where “a key element is the integration of faith and life”, which implies “not separating our state of life from what we do”, as Brother Marcelo Salami, of the Brazil-Chile District, explains in LaSalleOrg Interviews.
Spirit of faith and zeal
“The first principle of our Lasallian spirituality is the spirit of faith and zeal,” continues the Lasallian religious. It is a matter of recognising that “God guides history” and of understanding that “God is revealed in people, in the community, in events… He is a God who is present. And that is why, in our daily prayer, we remember God’s presence, because God makes himself present in the community, in people and in events”.
In this way, we are also called to “live our spirituality from within the community. It is the place where we experience God’s presence in our daily lives, where we also discern his will day by day, and where we contemplate his presence”, says Brother Marcelo.
This also implies “embracing our discipleship of Jesus Christ”, “the centrality of Jesus Christ and his cause”, for “we are not followers of the Church, nor of the Institute, but rather we follow the person of Jesus Christ and his message, his Gospel”, explains the Brazilian religious.
Faith has consequences
“And finally, I would emphasise that Lasallian spirituality is a faith embodied in history. It is not an abstract faith; it is a faith that has concrete consequences in our lives, in the life of the community, and in the lives of individuals. A faith that does not ignore suffering, that does not ignore pain, that does not ignore the various forms of violence… it is a faith that moves us to provide concrete responses to people’s needs”.
In a society where many young people and children “experience of being orphaned”, Brother Marcelo maintains that “as Lasallians, our faith must also lead us to live out that dimension of the presence of the father and the presence of the mother, in some way, within our educational communities”. We are the spiritual fathers and mothers of our students!
How can we cultivate Lasallian spirituality today? “It is important to participate fully in the community, perhaps being more attentive to God’s presence in the community (…). And to take part in the Lasallian formation opportunities promoted by the Pastoral team, including some participation in volunteer ministry programs,” suggests Brother Marcelo. “And let us not forget: we follow a person, Jesus Christ, and his message found in the Gospels,” he concludes.