Saint Joseph Calasanz (1556-1648) Image: Introibo
(Franciscan Media) Born in Spain Aragon, Joseph was the youngest of five children according to SQPN his mother and brother died while he was still in school. Joseph studied at Estadilla, at the University at Lereda Valencia where he would obtain degrees in Canon Law and Theology.
In 1583 Joseph was Ordained into the Priesthood — As a Priest trained both in Canon Law and Theology, he was well respected for his wisdom and administrative expertise but would put aside his career because of his concerns with the need of education of poor children.
When Fr. Joseph Calasanz was unable to get other institutes to accept poor children, many of them orphans and homeless into school according to SQPN he and several companions personally provided a ‘Free School’ for needy children.
So overwhelming was the response that Fr. Joseph Calasanz and his companions received, that there was a constant need for larger-and-larger facilities to house their free school.
Soon thereafter, Pope Clement VIII gave support to the school and this financial aid continued under Pope Paul V — Soon other schools were opened and other men attracted to their work joined them. — In 1621 Fr. Joseph Calasanz ‘Free School” received Papal recognition as a religious order called ‘Le Sciole Pie’ (Religious Schools) and became known as the Piarists — Fr. Joseph Calasanze was subsequently appointed Superior for life.
A combination of prejudices, political ambition and maneuvering caused Fr. Joseph Calasanz ‘Free School’ great turmoil. Some people did not favor educating poor children rationalizing that education would still leave them poor but likewise dissatisfied with their lowly opportunities in society. — Others were shocked that some students were being sent to Astronomer Galileo (a friend of Fr. Joseph Calasanz) for instruction.
Repeatedly investigated by Papal Commissions, Fr. Joseph Calasanz was demoted and when the political struggles persisted, ‘Le Sciole Pie’ were suppressed.
Only subsequent to Fr. Joseph Calasanz death, was ‘Le Sciole Pie’ or Piarists formally recognized as a religious community.
Fr. Joseph Calasanz was Beatified in 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV and Canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XII
Tweet