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Jose CalasanzCatholic saint, priest, educator
Date of Birth: 31.07.1557
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Saint Joseph Calasanz
- Service to the Sick and Education
- Foundation of the Piarist Order
- Leadership and Challenges
- Restoration and Legacy
- Contributions to Education
- Writings and Veneration
- Legacy in Art
Saint Joseph Calasanz
Early Life and EducationBorn into a large family in Spain, Joseph Calasanz was the youngest of eight children. He received a comprehensive education, studying in Lerida, Alcalá, and Valencia. In 1583, he was ordained as a priest and earned a doctorate in theology in 1592.
Service to the Sick and Education
In 1592, Joseph left Spain for Rome. During an outbreak of the plague in 1595, he tirelessly cared for the sick. Inspired by this experience, he resolved to dedicate his life to educating the youth.
In 1597, he established the first free public school in Europe at the Church of St. Dorothea in Rome. The school eventually formed a brotherhood, which was approved by Pope Clement VIII in 1602.
Foundation of the Piarist Order
In 1617, the brotherhood was elevated to the status of a religious congregation. In 1621, it became a religious order known as the Piarists. The order was dedicated to the education of children and youth. In addition to the traditional monastic vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, Piarists took a special vow to dedicate themselves to the education of the people.
Leadership and Challenges
After the founding of the order, Saint Joseph was appointed Superior General. In 1642, he faced trial by the Inquisition for allegedly supporting the heliocentric theory. In 1643, he was removed from leadership of the order.
In 1646, the order was rocked by a series of scandals involving sexual abuse in the Neapolitan branch. As a result, the order was dissolved. It was later reinstated with a reduced status as a religious congregation and fully restored only in 1669.
Restoration and Legacy
Through all the trials and tribulations, Saint Joseph remained steadfast in his belief in the order's renewal. By the end of his life, the Piarists had once again become an established order with six provinces, 37 monasteries, and over 500 monks.
Contributions to Education
Saint Joseph Calasanz made significant contributions to education, including the introduction of new subjects such as penmanship and vernacular languages; the concept of dividing students into classes; the abolition of corporal punishment in schools; and strict professional standards for teachers. He emphasized that a true teacher's goal was not only intellectual but also moral development, which could only be achieved through respectful treatment of students.
Writings and Veneration
Saint Joseph wrote the constitution for the Piarist Order, a children's catechism, and extensive correspondence that expounded his pedagogical views. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1748 and canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767. In 1948, Pope Pius XII proclaimed him the patron saint of Christian schools and Christian education.
Legacy in Art
Saint Joseph is depicted in Francisco Goya's famous painting "The Last Communion of Saint Joseph Calasanz." His feast day in the Catholic Church is celebrated on August 25th.
