St. Joseph Calasanz (English, spanish, french)
and The Crown of Twelve Stars
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Saint Joseph Calasanz (1557-1648)
Founder of The Piarist Fathers
St. Joseph Calasanz was a holy priest and the founder of both the world's first Christian public school and later the Order of the Pious Schools, which is known today as the Piarist Fathers, and he devoted his life to the education of poor children. He was born in Spain on September 11, 1557, in a little village in Aragon called Peralta de la Sal. He was the youngest of five children born to Don Pedro Calasanz and Donna Maria Gastonia. His mother and brother died while he was still in school. He studied at Estadilla, Valencia, and at Alcala de Henares. His father wanted him to become a soldier, to marry, and to continue the family, but a near-fatal illness in 1582 caused him to seriously examine his life, and he realized that he was called to the religious life. He was ordained as a diocesan priest on December 17, 1583, after receiving a doctorate in both canon law and theology from the University of Lereda. Calasanz served as a parish priest at Albarracin and was given high ecclesiastical positions. He did his work well, serving as secretary and confessor to his bishop, synodal examiner, and procurator. He helped revive religious zeal among the laity and discipline among the clergy in his small section of the Pyrenees. He also served as Vicar-general of Trempe, Spain. Both his father and his bishop died in 1587, and following a vision, he gave away much of his inheritance and renounced most of the rest.In 1592, just nine years after his ordination, he traveled to Rome, where it seemed he would have a promising career. He worked in the household of Cardinal Ascanio Colonna as a theological advisor for the cardinal and as a tutor to the cardinal's nephew. Yet, he felt that God was calling him to do something more. He was shocked by the ignorance and the poor morals of the common people, especially the youth he encountered in the Trastevere, one of the poorest suburbs of the city. He joined the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and his heart was filled with pity for all of the orphans and homeless children he saw everywhere. They were ignorant and neglected. He was convinced that the best way he could help the people was to make sure that ALL of the children had a good education. It seems that God wanted Calasanz to be a mediator so that he could enrich the Church with a new charismatic gift.Being unable to interest any of the city's religious orders and institutes in the education of poor children, he undertook this task himself. He began to gather them together to teach them both all the regular secular subjects and especially their religion. Soon, other priests joined him, and in 1597, in the Church of St. Dorothy, he and two fellow priests opened the first free public school in Europe. So overwhelming was the response of the people that Fr. Calasanz and his companions received, that there was a constant need for larger and larger facilities to house their free school. In 1602, they moved to larger quarters and reorganized the teaching priests into a community. In 1612, they moved to the Torres Palace to have even more room. Soon after that, Pope Clement VIII gave support to the school, and this financial aid continued under Pope Paul V. Soon other schools were opened and more men attracted to their work joined them.On March 25, 1617, he and his fourteen assistants formed the Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools. They were the very first priests to teach in elementary schools as their primary ministry. Emphasizing love, not fear, St. Joseph wrote, "If from the very earliest years, a child is instructed in both religion and letters, it can be reasonably hoped that his life will be happy." While residing in Rome, Joseph endeavored to visit the seven principal churches of that city almost every evening and also to honor the graves of the Roman martyrs. During one of the city's repeated plagues, a holy rivalry existed between him and St. Camillus in aiding the sick and in personally carrying away for burial the bodies of those who had been stricken. On account of his heroic patience and fortitude during trouble and persecution, he was called a marvel of Christian courage, a second Job.This is the context where his vocation originated. He heard the voice of God calling him: "Joseph, give yourself for the poor. Teach these children and take care of them." Soon Calasanz became the superior of the new religious order, but he never let his duties as founder and superior stop him from teaching his beloved children. He would even sweep the classrooms himself. He often led the little ones to their homes after school was over. At the insistence of Calasanz, Jewish children were admitted to the Pious Schools, and he ensured that they were treated as equals. Many textbooks were written in vernacular languages rather than Latin, and the study of mathematics and science was a priority. In 1621, Fr. Joseph Calasanz's "Free Schools" received Papal recognition as a religious order under solemn canonical vows called "Le Sciole Pie" (the Religious Schools), which in English became the Piarists.However, Joseph encountered many difficulties, including his friendships with the controversial astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) and the Italian Dominican friar and philosopher Tommaso Campanella (1558-1639), who sought to reconcile Renaissance humanism with Roman Catholic theology. As a result, he was investigated by papal commissioners. Some members of the ruling class objected that educating the poor would cause social unrest. Other Religious Orders that worked with the poor were afraid they would be absorbed by the Piarists. But the group continued to have papal support and to do good work. He also had much to suffer from people who wanted to take over his order, and he also suffered through the rebellion of one of his subordinates in the order. Once, he was even led through the streets like a criminal, and he was almost put in jail, although he had done nothing wrong. Also, there were still those who felt that the poor shouldn't be educated, as this would only make them dissatisfied with their lot in life. A papal commission charged with examining the Order acquitted Joseph of all accusations, and in 1645, returned him to the superior of the Order, but internal dissent continued, and the following year Pope Innocent X dissolved the Order, placing the priests under control of their local bishops. St. Joseph was removed from office, and his order was suppressed in every country save Poland, but he, like the wise Old Testament figure Job, remained humble and obedient. Despite this suffering, Joseph only said: "The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away."St. Joseph Calasanz died a calm and peaceful death on August 25, 1648, and soon after, his Order was fully restored by Pope Clement IX. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Clement XIII in 1767. Seventy-five years ago, on August 13, 1948, Pope Pius XII declared him to be the "Heavenly Patron Saint of all Christian Public Schools." He shares his Feast Day on August 25 with St. Louis IX of France and St. Genesius, the patron of actors.
PRAYER:
Lord,
you blessed Saint Joseph Calasanz
with such charity and patience
that he dedicated himself
to the formation of Christian youth.
As we honor this teacher of wisdom
may we follow his example in working for truth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
SAN JOSE DE CALASANZ, PEDAGOGO DEL SIGLO XVII,
A LA VANGUARDIA DE LA EDUCACIÓN MUNDIAL
Luis Negro Marco
El 25 de Agosto la Iglesia celebra la festividad de san José de Calasanz ( 1557-1648) fundador de la primera escuela popular y gratuita a nivel mundial. Nuestro santo nació en la localidad oscense de Peralta de la Sal . Aragonés por tanto de nacimiento (increíblemente, aún hoy en día se siguen escribiendo textos oficiales en Cataluña aseverando que –habiendo nacido en suelo aragonés– san José de Calasanz era catalán), recibió las órdenes sacerdotales en 1583 . Pasó entonces al servicio del Obispo de Lérida , como examinador sinodal, y posteriormente, a la diócesis de Urgel , de cuya Curia fue oficial durante ocho años. Posteriormente, e n 1592 , se trasladó a Roma , ciudad en la que el cardenal Colonna lo nombró instructor de su sobrino. A su vez, y como miembro de la Sociedad de la Doctrina Cristian a, Calasanz predicaba muy a menudo ya en las iglesias, ya en las plazas públicas de Roma, enseñando el catecismo a los niños. Y fue así, viendo a los cientos de niños huérfanos que vagaban por Roma, malviviendo e incluso muriendo diariamente a causa del hambre y la enfermedad, como se desarrolló la vocación pedagógica del sacerdote aragonés, decidiendo dedicarse por completo a la educación y enseñanza religiosa de la infancia y la juventud de Roma más necesitada, como si a él hubiesen sido dedicadas las palabras del Rey profeta: Tibi derelictus est pauper, orphano tu eris adjutor (“Serás el ayudante de los huérfanos, los pobres y los más necesitados”). Desde entonces, José de Calasanz pasó a ser un gran pedagogo , que fundó el concepto de la verdadera y buena escuela: la popular y gratuita. Porque el aragonés pensaba que la miseria del pueblo solo puede solucionarse por medio de la educación, y para ello puso los cimientos sobre los que se sustentan los pilares de la escuela popular; no fue un camino fácil, y Calasanz hubo de sufrir por ello, cuando no la incomprensión, la oposición directa de las clases acomodadas que veían en su obra educativa un efecto desestabilizador de sus privilegios.
Pero nuestro pedagogo, en su revolucionaria visión sabía que la reforma de los pueblos (que debe basarse en la igualdad de oportunidades y un Derecho igual para todos) consiste en el diligente ejercicio de la enseñanza. Fue así como e n 1597 , el santo de Peralta abrió (en la iglesia de Santa Dorotea , en el romano barrio del Trastévere ) las primeras escuelas , a nivel mundial, verdaderamente populares .
Pronto se le unieron a José de Calasanz, otros sacerdotes, naciendo, así, en 1616 , la Comunidad de Clérigos Regulares de las Escuelas Pías , que pronto se extendieron por toda Italia , España (Barbastro fundado en 1731 fue el primer colegio escolapio en nuestro país), y Alemania. En estas escuelas se enseñaba, ya en el siglo XVI , –y gratuitamente– la lectura (y no por el procedimiento del deletreo), la escritura “a la manera española”, la Aritmética, Geometría, Contabilidad, la Filosofía, la Teología, el Dibujo y la Música –cosa muy inusitada en aquellos tiempos. De este modo, los colegios de san José de Calasanz fueron, desde su fundación, verdaderos grupos escolares (absolutamente iguales a los de hoy en día) donde no podían pasar los alumnos de una clase a la inmediata superior, sin riguroso examen, y en ellos se practicaba el método heurístico (que fomenta la creatividad del alumno a la hora de resolver y plantear cuestiones), llevando a los niños al conocimiento de lo abstracto, a través de su entorno material y más inmediato.
Pero como toda obra revolucionaria (máxime si su impulsor frecuenta “amistades peligrosas”, como la de Calasanz con el astrónomo Galileo , quien hubo de retractarse ante la Inquisición por su defensa del heliocentrismo ) también el aragonés hubo de afrontar el Alto Tribunal ante las calumnias de algunos de sus propios compañeros de Orden.
De manera que a la muerte del santo, acaecida en 1648 , la Congregación de las Escuelas Pías había quedado disuelta por orden Papal. Eso sí, según revelan sus cartas, Calasanz siempre tuvo la confianza plena de que la Verdad triunfaría y su obra seguiría adelante. Y así fue; como todo lo bueno, la Congregación fue restituida de nuevo en sus plenas funciones y Reglas; Calasanz fue beatificado en 1748 y canonizado por Clemente XIII en 1767 , y la iglesia celebra su fiesta cada 25 de Agosto . Además, por su gran labor pedagógica, de dimensión mundial, el santo aragonés es patrón universal de las escuelas cristianas populares y gratuitas y durante muchos años, ha sido, es o fue, el patrón de los maestros de numerosos países de los cinco continentes, incluido España .
Actualmente, y después de cuatro siglos, la obra de Calasanz sigue floreciente y repartida por los cinco continentes a través de cientos de colegios escolapios en donde se educa a la infancia y la juventud conforme a las normas pedagógicas calasancias, tan revolucionarias, que figuran, casi cuatro siglos y medio después, a la vanguardia de la educación mundial.
SAINT JOSEPH DE CALASANZ – FONDATEUR DES ECOLES PIES (CONGREGATION DES PERES PIARISTES)
Le 25 Aout de chaque année l’église universelle commémore la fête de Saint Joseph Calasanz, fondateur de la Congrégation des Peres Piaristes et patron universel des écoles populaires chrétiennes. A titre de rappel, les Prêtres en service dans la paroisse Saint Helena de Bronx sont tous membres de la Congrégation des Peres Piaristes. Qui était Joseph de Calasanz et comment a-t-il fonde la congrégation ?
Joseph Calasanz est né en 1557 à Peralta de la Sal, localité espagnole de langue catalane située en Aragon. Il était le septième et dernier enfant d’une famille de la petite noblesse aragonaise. Il a brillamment achevé les études secondaires et supérieurs dans son Espagne natal. Ses études étaient couronne par un doctorat en droit et en théologie. Sur cette base intellectuelle il est allé a Rome pour poursuivre une carrière ecclésiastique. À l’époque où José Calasanz arriva à Rome, à la fin du XVIe siècle, la ville devait affronter de graves problèmes économiques, sanitaires et moraux. Les conditions déplorables dans lesquelles végétaient de nombreux enfants le convainquirent de l’extraordinaire importance de l’éducation comme moyen de progrès moral, de promotion sociale et de réforme des mœurs. Ce fut là le point de départ d’une vocation pédagogique, parfaitement inscrite dans sa vocation religieuse, à laquelle il consacra sans défaillance tout le reste de sa vie.
Lors de ses fréquentes visites dans les quartiers populaires de Rome, le futur pédagogue put constater non seulement les difficultés sociales des nombreuses familles misérables qui y vivaient aux prises avec des problèmes d’alimentation, d’hygiène, de santé et de moralité, mais aussi le déplorable gaspillage des capacités intellectuelles dont faisaient preuve certains enfants et adolescents. Cette découverte l’affecta profondément et provoqua en lui un véritable sentiment de révolte. C’est
à ce moment que le prêtre qu’il avait été jusqu’alors, le titulaire d’un doctorat désireux de faire carrière, commença à découvrir sa vraie mission, celle de pédagogue. C’est principalement à travers elle que Calasanz s’accomplira véritablement comme prêtre. Loin de s’exclure, ces deux vocations se renforceront considérablement et resteront étroitement associées tout au long de sa vie. Calasanz trouvera dans la pédagogie la façon la plus authentique et la plus personnelle de concrétiser ses aspirations religieuses. En marchant dans les quartiers défavorisés de Rome, il avait découvert la petite école paroissiale de l’église Santa Dorotea del Trastévere, qui, comme les autres, était payante. Il en fit une école gratuite entièrement consacrée aux pauvres. Ainsi vit le jour, en 1597, la première école pie, tandis que Calasanz commençait sa prodigieuse carrière de pédagogue. Il avait trouvé enfin sa voie : « J’ai découvert à Rome le meilleur moyen de servir Dieu en aidant ces pauvres enfants ; je ne m’en écarterai pour rien au monde ». (Josep Domènech i Mira)
The Crown of Twelve Stars from St. Joseph Calasanz
In the 17th century, the Spanish priest St. Joseph Calasanz, the founder of the Piarist Fathers, had a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and composed “The Crown of Twelve Stars.” It is a prayer in honor of the Blessed Mother and is a direct reference to a passage in Revelation 12:1. Here is THE CROWN OF TWELVE STARS:
Let us offer praise and thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity, Who hath shown us the Virgin Mary, clothed with the sun, the moon between her feet, and on her head a mystic crown of twelve stars.
R. For ever and ever. Amen.
Let us praise and thank the Divine Father, Who elected her for His daughter.R. Amen.
(Say an Our Father.)
Praised be the Divine Father, Who predestined her to be the Mother of His Divine Son.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Divine Father, Who preserved her from all stain in her conception.R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Divine Father, Who adorned her at birth with His most excellent gifts.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Divine Father, Who gave her Saint Joseph to be her companion and most pure spouse.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.)
Let us praise and thank the Divine Son, Who chose her for His mother.
R. Amen.
(Say an Our Father.)
Praised be the Divine Son, Who became incarnate in her bosom and there abode for nine months.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Divine Son, Who was born of her and was nourished at her breast.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Divine Son, Who in His childhood willed to be taught by her.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Divine Son, Who revealed to her the mystery of the Redemption of the world.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.)
Let us praise and thank the Holy Spirit, Who took her for His spouse.
R. Amen.
(Say an Our Father.)
Praised be the Holy Spirit, Who revealed first to her His Name of Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Holy Spirit, by Whose operation she was at once Virgin and Mother.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Holy Spirit, by Whose power she was the living-temple of the ever-blessed Trinity.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary.)
Praised be the Holy Spirit, by Whom she was exalted in Heaven above every living creature.
R. Amen.
(Say a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.)