Reflection for World Heart Day: Embracing Unity and Compassion in the Lasallian Mission

As we approach World Heart Day, observed on 29th September, we are reminded of the vital importance of both physical health and the deeper connections that bind us as a community. The values of association and union, central to the legacy of John Baptist de La Salle, invite us to reflect on our shared mission and the relationships that sustain it.

Br. John Cantwell offers a poignant reflection on these themes, highlighting the complex relationship between De La Salle and his companion, Nicolas Vuyart.

“One of the values closest to the heart of John Baptist de La Salle is evident in words like ‘association’ and ‘union.’ His vow, in 1691, with Gabriel Drolin and Nicolas Vuyart, was one of ‘association and union’ to establish the Society of the Christian Schools. In his Testament (1719), he urges the Brothers, ‘with whom (God) has associated me,’ to ‘maintain close union among themselves.’

Nicolas Vuyart, as Bernard Hours describes him, ‘had been a companion from the earliest days, faithful through thick and thin, a solid and strong personality, and totally devoted to the schools.’

The Founder would naturally have been hurt, therefore, when, a few years later, Nicolas evidently distanced himself from John Baptist and the Institute. The circumstances were trying. De La Salle had lost a legal skirmish with the Writing Masters, which left the situation of the schools in Paris fragile. Vuyart, with De La Salle’s support, was running both a school and a teacher-training programme. However, to ensure the programme’s survival on the death of the parish priest, the funding was placed in Nicolas’ own hands.

Perhaps in view of the political situation, Nicolas wanted to ensure the survival of the school and so decided to make it clear that he was not associated with De La Salle. Ironically, the programme’s funding was withdrawn, but Nicolas continued to run the school successfully for many years.

Nicolas later applied to be readmitted to the Institute. It is indicative of John Baptist’s values that he would have welcomed him back, but was advised against it, perhaps by some who shared the harshly judgmental views of the early biographers who condemned Nicolas as ‘the miserable usurper’ (Maillefer) and ‘this prodigal and unnatural son’ (Blain). It must have pained the Founder to be obliged to choose between his own sense of compassion for an erstwhile companion and the supposed ‘good of the community’ urged by his advisors.”

As we reflect on this story, let us remember the importance of unity and compassion in our own community. Just as De La Salle navigated the complexities of relationships with grace, we are called to nurture the bonds that unite us, especially during challenging times. May this World Heart Day inspire us to prioritise understanding and reconciliation, fostering an environment where every heart is valued and every relationship is nurtured.

In the spirit of John Baptist de La Salle, let us commit ourselves anew to the mission of education and service, driven by love, compassion, and a heartfelt dedication to one another.