I. Charism - La Salle.org

IV. DISCOVERING, LIVING, SHARING THE GIFT OF GOD 101
the Brothers). In 1694, John Baptist de La Salle tried again to have
a Brother elected in his place. But there, the Brothers refused to go
along with him. In spite of his exhortations, in spite of re-starting
voting sessions, they remained unanimous in choosing Monsieur de
La Salle as Superior. Finally, one of them spoke to invite him to
recognise in their behaviour the will of God. Nevertheless the
record which they drew up later shows that they had fully understood
the concerns of John Baptist de La Salle: that the Superior of
the Brothers should be one of themselves.
The Record of the Election.
At the end of the vows “which we have taken yesterday, we the
undersigned…” the list of names of those who had associated
themselves the day before is repeated again, from beginning to end.
It is in the interior of this Association, and for its benefit, that this
step of election takes place. Just as the vow of June 6th was framed
by the Trinity, model of all “association”, the step of structuring the
Association, which is what the election of the Superior is, takes
place within the group of associates. One may note that the
Brothers are listed in the same order as for the vows, with Brothers
Nicolas Vuyart and Gabriel Drolin at the head and the youngest ()
at the end. With the naming of the members of the Association and
the reminder of the step they are taking in common, it is the body
of the Society which is trying itself out.
The step they have taken is presented as flowing directly from the
commitment to association taken together: “after having associated
ourselves with Monsieur de La Salle, priest…”. Besides, they take
up again the text of their consecration to God: “to keep together
and by association gratuitous schools by the vows which we have
taken yesterday…”. These vows (association, stability, obedience)
are linked with the aim, “to keep gratuitous schools”, and the conditions
for doing so, “together and by association”.