This document discusses St. John Baptist De La Salle's spirituality and lessons that can be learned from his life. It highlights that De La Salle's works were fueled by sacrifice, as he dedicated himself fully to educating and serving the poor. He saw teaching as a mission from God. Some key lessons are the importance of faith, community, zeal, and sacrificing oneself for the welfare of students. De La Salle is held up as a model for teachers to dedicate themselves to the holistic education of hearts, minds, and hands with passion and without concern for personal wants.

1. LASALLIAN SPIRITUALITY and LIFE of ST. LA SALLE
Reflection No. 1 (Faith and Zeal)
“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what
you believe.”
- St. Agustine
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
- Martin Luther King
For me, faith is kept on believing and holding on to the things or idea which is
not tangible but our instinct dictates. Every human has its own faith but I can say that
not all human is faithful.
Who am I to not believe in God? Even Jesus Christ believes that his God
Father has plans and reason for letting him suffer and died in the cross. We are all
soldiers of God that needs to fulfil every mission we are oath with. Just like St. John
Baptist De La Salle, God uses him as a medium to create a better world and people
that would propagate faith in Him. Nobody of us sees God physically but we can feel
him spiritually. We do not see him but we can feel his presence through his numerous
and countless gifts to us every time we waked and be alive again every day. Living in
this world without faith in him is like a zombie that mingles to humanity without a
mission. I believe that faith has something to do with our mission in life.

2. “Kaya tayo laging umaasa at nagbabaka-sakali ay sa kadahilang tayo ay
naniniwala pa. Naniniwalang may magbabago, may darating, may gagaling, may
kakaibang mangyayari, may himalang ihahandog. Di nga ba’t kaya nabuo ang
kulturang “Bahala Na!” sa mga Pilipino ay dahil sa ating matinding pananalig at
pagkapit sa Maykapal na hindi Niya tayo pababayaan kailanman.” We may suffer
from difficulties in life and this material world throws us but still we intended to stand
up again and again even we stumble and fall all over again. I can say that I do felt this
faith particularly on this Christian Song (STILL by Hill Song United) that made me
cry the first time I heard it. Its’ lyrics are for real and true. We asked God to hide us
under his wings and cover us to his mighty hands because we believe in him, that he is
God and our Saviour; that we can find rest and friendship in him that will save us
from any storm of life. And me; as a human; as a female; as a mother; as a teacher by
profession, should have strong faith in Him in order to fulfil my mission that God
gave me.
Lately after few years of teaching experience, I had realized the idea of serving
God is not only in the church works. I will never forget the first Catholic English Song
I’d memorize and fell in love with like LSS with the millennial now a days. “Here I
Am Lord”. I was grade 4 then in a Catholic School and I am a choir member. I deeply
understand the meaning of the song and since then I believe it tells something to me.
That in that age, I know I am offering myself to God; telling him to use me because I
heard him calling me; that I will go wherever he wants as long as he leads me. And
now, here I am! I was sent by God to do a certain mission. Not just to do it but
sincerely do it with heart and integrity despite of all the trials and storm.

3. As inculcated by St. John Baptist De La Salle in his zeal core values, I have to
do my mission with commitment and compassion. Being a teacher, it is a great
challenge to prepare your every day with competence and handful patience. Despite of
the shortages and challenges of this profession can offer, I am intended to teacher.
These hard working studies for career development and strategies innovation in order
to benefit our learners is part of the seal to zeal my service to fellow countrymen. I
should bear in hearts and mind the huge desire to achieve excellence for a greater
service that I may share and prosper to my colleagues and students as well. Not to be
self-centred but selfless and forgiving for I know that God loves me and I am His
instrument to mould the future of humanity and faith.
Zeal for service is impossible to achieve without the strong faith and
perseverance. Zeal may serve as the vehicles like tricycles, motorcycles or cars in
order to reach the destination but it will not move without the diesel or gasoline which
is our faith in God.

4. LASALLIAN SPIRITUALITY and LIFE of ST. LA SALLE
Reflection No. 2 (Communion in Mission)
The word “communion” is defined as act of sharing, participation, or holding in
common. That means, it has similarities, common denominators, or same value to be
with. According to www.allaboutjesuschrist.org , the word “communion” as
translated in King James Version is the Greek word “koinonia” and it means a
partnership, participation, social intercourse, fellowship, communication, distribution,
contribution, or to communicate. In the Catholic Church, communion is part of the
mass where in all the attendees gather together and lined up to receive the body of
Christ in a form of bread. This may not the actual scenario but we used to do it to
commemorate the last supper and love of Jesus Christ to his disciples before he was
abducted and betrayed.
I can also incorporate the word “communion” to a community which means, it
is comprises of different people with different folks and culture but still shares the
same weather, economic crises, tradition, agonies, laws and regulations and even
religions as well and yet they managed to be harmonious to avoid harming each other.
As the popular saying says, “No man is an island”, we cannot live and survive alone.
We need each other to achieve one common goal. Just like what St. John Baptist De
La Salle did. He leads the congress and the brothers and fired their spirits to attain one

5. common goal and mission that he believes God uttered to him. Having a concrete faith
and heart for his mission feeds the hungry stomach and mind of the children. Sharing
from the brotherhood and community comes along with same mission, vision and goal
to mould the better community with faith and fear of God to create and provide zeal of
service for the people.
Having one union that praises God because of the undeniable faith maybe one
of the ultimate key to conquer fear and envy to succeed in same goal, mission and
passion. I am a member of community. I communicate to others who are also a
member of community I am belonging with. In my micro-community; I belong to the
educators that envision our learners to be responsible, fruitful and successful citizens
of the community. In the teaching profession, we are committed to do our best and
obey the curriculum mandated by Department of Education as the manuscript in
achieving common goal. I can say that we may not be holy or saint yet like St. La
Salle but we are in one vessel as we teachers consumes our own life and time for the
welfare of our students, particularly here in the Philippines where in educators were
underpaid but over worked.
At the end, I believe that we may not be compensated enough with money but
we are a major contributor for change and moulding the nation that pays back to us
when we are able to become a responsible contributor, distributor, communicator,
member, leader, follower, social interferer and listener of the community to achieve
the communion in mission. Just like one basketball, volley ball or football team, our
presence is important because we are part of the group. Group with the common goal
which is winning the game and be the champion of the leagues.

6. In every communion there is a mission. For every mission, there is a
communion. It’s really hard to get them separated like you were about to identify the
coffee, sugar and creamer to the 3 in 1 coffe mix. Instead, the balance of these three
ingredients when blended and stirred properly may give you a delightful coffee drinks.
For an option, it may be served hot or cold but still it awaken us because of its caffein
content, and at the end of the day, we still enjoy drinking the coffee.
Our community and goal may achieve in different ways and techniques
according to our preferences, but at the end of its communion, the basic ingredients
are still faith, love and zeal.

7. LASALLIAN SPIRITUALITY and LIFE of ST. LA SALLE
Reflection No. 3 (Lessons Learned From Spirituality of St. La Salle)
Saint John Baptist De La Salle may influence us in a lot of things but the
merely and sole lesson from his life and journey is the word SACRIFICE. For me, If
I were about to extract and expound all of his works and mission, it was fuelled and
burnt with sacrifices. He consumes his own life; disregard his personal wants;
empathizes to his fellow men; and follow the will of God in order to benefit the
people which are one of the God’s valuable creatures. He dedicate himself to become
the leader of the lambs in order for us not to walk astray.
As I have read from the reflection of Gerard Rummery, according to him the
La Sallian spirituality influenced by St. John Baptist De La Salle has a distinct flavour
or indeed emphasis which inclined to education. Educating the hearts, the mind,
moving our body and hands to feed the spirit of humanity. As his distinct
characteristic, St. La Salle serves as a role model for us teachers. That being a teacher
is also a social worker, a poster parent, a front-office person, a friend, a model, a
moderator and facilitator, and spiritual guide as well. That we, as teachers whether we
like it or not, we have to be equipped with knowledge, devotion, passion and
sacrifices in order to fulfil our chosen mission.
Being a leader, we have to inculcate the spirit of community. I am an important
part of the community, we need to participate and take part to fix and arrange the
micro and macro community for they are also our brothers and sisters. St. La Salle

8. also teaches us the spirit of faith and zeal. These ideas were important to give a
meaningful service and sacrifices towards goal achievement and propagation. He
insists the importance of dedicating all our works and actions to God, as if He is our
boss and we are His subordinates. Just like how St. La Salle did and ordered his
brothers not only to teach and practice the Christian doctrine but also to spend six
hours of their time teaching fundamental knowledge for human subjects like reading,
writing, arithmetic and spelling. When I learned this thought, I’d realize and wonder if
the Philippines Magna Carta Law for teaching was aligned to the idea of St. John
Baptist De La Salle? That we teachers as per Republic Act 4670 has six hours actual
teaching only. In reality, sometimes teachers extend to more than the required hours if
necessary for the welfare of the students and to create meaningful and experiential
learning to learners. To sacrifice yourself for the learners because you are called by
God to your work, that you are also a co-worker of God and you work for the poor
which loved by God very much in which St. John Baptist De La Salle also dedicate
himself.
As a rich man that came from wealthy family but choses to serve God by being
priest and the recognising the poor by being a teacher, he takes action one step at a
time and be persistent in learning equipped with faith and zeal, he was able to know
what is the matter most in order to create his mission together with the brothers
congregation and other stock holders of community that shows love to their
countrymen as well.
It is hard to be like St. John Baptist De La Salle as to compare now a days but
at least, we can follow him into little footsteps by living into his prayer: (1) Let us

9. remember that we are in the most holy presence of God; (2) I will continue oh my
God to do all my actions for the love of you; (3) Live Jesus in our hearts,
FOREVER…