Saint Cajetan
First Point
What Holy Scripture tells us about the ancient Patriarchs can also be said of Saint Cajetan, namely, that his days were full and that hedied full of days,1 for as soon as he had received Holy Orders, he devoted himself to procure the salvation of souls in such a way that the day and the night did not seem enough for him to do his work, so ardent and so all embracing was his zeal for his neighbor. He spent all day administering the sacraments, visiting and encouraging the sick, and in other acts of piety; then he spent nearly all night in penance, study, and prayer. In this way what he did at night helped him to prepare for what he had to do during the day. Because you are obliged to work for the salvation of your neighbor, bring to the exercise of your work the same preparation that Saint Cajetan brought in order to fulfill well his ministry. Therefore, study your catechism, read good books, pray fervently, and in accordwith the spirit of your Institute, mortify your mind and your senses. You must learn the truths of religion thoroughly by study, for ignorance in you would be criminal, because it would cause ignorance in those who are entrusted to you. Prayer and mortification are needed for you to draw down the graces of God on you and on those whom you instruct.
Second Point
This saint saw that one of the most common and most telling reproaches that the heretic Luther leveled against the Church was the disorderly life of priests. He believed that the best way to silence this apostate was to found an Order of Clerks Regular, whose members would be able by their regulated conduct and disinterestedness to serve as an example for priests as much by their regulated conduct as by their perfect disinterestedness in the exercise of their duties. He gave up an important position he held, and with three companions, one of whom was a bishop who resigned his see, he founded this order that is a great edification to the Church. These two things are necessary for you in your Institute: a regulated life and disinterestedness. They are also the two most appropriate ways to do good for souls. By a regulated life you will edify your disciples and be for them a constant model of self-control, wisdom,and piety. This will be a very moving lesson for them, and with disinterestedness you will do everything by grace and for God alone. As a result, God will infallibly bless what you are doing.
Third Point
In his order this saint promoted detachment from everything to such an excess, if we can speak this way, that he not only did not allow those in his order to possess any revenue or regular income, either in common or individually, but also forbade them to ask for alms, either in person or through others. They were to abandon themselves for food, clothing, and all bodily needs to God’s Providence alone.They were to base themselves on these words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel: Do not be worried about what to eat and what to drink and about all the necessities of life, because if you seek first of all andeven uniquely the kingdom of God, all these things will be given to you in plenty.2 God did not leave them in want; several times he came to their help in an extraordinary fashion. You cannot carry disinterestedness too far in your work. You have to teach poor children; instruct them by your example. To teach them to love poverty, let your disinterestedness lead you to practice it as far as it pleases God. You know too that you are committed to keep schools gratuitously and to live on bread alone, if need be, rather than accept anything. Be on your guard, therefore, never to receive anything whatever, either from the students or from their parents. Ask for this spirit of disinterestedness through the intercession of Saint Cajetan.
Historical Context
Cajetan (1480–1547) was born in Vicenza, Italy, and studied at Padua. After earning his doctorate in civil and canon law, he was ordained in 1516 as a member of the Roman Oratory of Divine Love, a confraternity pledged to deep spiritual life and works of charity for the poor. Later, in 1524, he founded a Society of Clerks Regular with the help of a friend, Gian Pietro Carafa, who later became Pope Paul IV. The group became known by the name Theatines, taken from the title of Carafa when he was bishop of Chieti (Theatinus in Latin). Theyvowed to live entirely on Providence, even prohibiting themselves any asking for alms. In this De La Salle saw a model for the Brothers’commitment to gratuitous teaching and total trust in God. Cajetan died in Naples on August 7, 1547, and was canonized in 1691 by Pope Innocent XII. De La Salle was 40 years old at that time and passing through a most critical period in his work to found the Institute.
Scripture Citation
- Gn 25:8
- Mt 6:31–33