I. Charism - La Salle.org

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IV. DISCOVERING, LIVING, SHARING THE GIFT OF GOD
both from the lay state and the ecclesiastical state; Monsieur de La
Salle wrote “that it would be best for them to have a habit that was
neither ecclesiastical nor secular” (MH 0,0,18).
The Vows 57
Three questions were put to the teachers during the assembly:
1. Should they take vows
2. What vows should they take
3. For how long should they take them: for one year, several years or
for ever 58
After some discussion and on the advice of John Baptist de La Salle,
the teachers decided to make vows of obedience, stability and
teaching the poor gratuitously, for three years. These vows were
taken at Liesse, probably, on the feast of the Trinity. They agreed to
meet in Reims the following year, on the eve of Pentecost Sunday,
so that those who wished could transform these triennial vows into
a perpetual commitment. Eight of the twelve then renewed their
vows once again, along with Monsieur de La Salle, for three years.
These same twelve teachers, decided to propose to the other members
of the Community: “the neophytes of the House and those on
whom one could not rely absolutely” 59 , to make a vow of obedience
for one year, to be renewed each year on Trinity Sunday.
The name of Brother. The teachers chose to take the name of
Brothers after they had changed their habit; therefore around 1685-
1686. Our Rule of 1987 took up again, on this matter, the excellent
commentary of Blain:
57
See Blain, op. cit., Book Two, p. 177-181. (CL 7, p. 235-238).
58
Blain, op. cit., Book Two, p. 178. (CL 7. p. 235).
59
Blain, Idem, p. 181. § 3. (CL 7, p. 238).