On some days, I do not post pictures on our web site because the subject matter doesn't lend itself to photography. But today was definitely a picture day. I hope the pictures that I have included give you a sense of the events of the day. The first "Kodak moment" came with the arrival from the Vatican Museum of Cesare Mariani's painting of the Founder teaching class. On the occasion of the beatification of St. John Baptist de La Salle in 1888, the Institute presented the painting to Pope Leo XIII. The painting has been on display from time to time in the Vatican Museum. Br. John Johnston mentioned that he saw it there only once, in 1976. It is a treat for me to be able to see the original after having seen only prints of it. It is on loan until June 8 when it must go back to the Vatican.

I was shocked to see the size of it. Including the frame, it is 3.9 meters (12.8 feet) high and 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) wide. I wasn't the only one surprised by the size. It was intended to go into the main chapel, but even sideways it wouldn't fit through the doors that lead into the chapel. Almost, but almost doesn't count. After about an hour of measuring, head scratching, and a great deal of Italian that I didn't understand, the crew from the Vatican placed it in the entrance lobby of the Generalate. I think it is actually in a very nice spot. The lighting is good and most of us pass by it several times a day. Even the postman thinks it is terrific.

Several years after it was painted, Mariani's son painted a much smaller version that is remarkably true to his father's original. This version is on permanent display in the John Paul II room of the Generalate. Br. John Johnston showed it to the professor from the Vatican who was in charge of the movement of the larger picture from the Museum. Br. John said that he has always "preferred paintings and statues of St. De La Salle with children. But this painting goes a step further, depicting the Founder in class... I think it has enormous value and significance for us. It manifests clearly our call, as disciples of John Baptist de La Salle, to make education available first and foremost to poor children by means of well-adapted schools."

Br. John was quite happy that the painting could be displayed in the Generalate during the 43rd General Chapter, especially today, the Centenary of the Canonization of the Founder. The painting is delightful in its detail. There are so many wonderful moments in it, I have included a number of them to the left and hope you can experience a bit of what it is like in person.

Meanwhile, while I was busy snapping pictures, the chapter members spent the morning doing commission work. After an afternoon break, at 4 in the afternoon, Br. Antonio Botana, FSC from Spain, delivered a paper on "The Type of Education-Based Religious Life that Began with Saint John Baptist de La Salle and its Perspectives for Today". Br. Antonio is an occasional presenter at CIL and was invited by the Preparatory Commission in conjunction with the Jubilee Commission to address the Chapter and invited members of other religious orders with a charism similar to ours.

He first spoke about the foundation of the Brothers, emphasizing our lay character and our communal life. He described the first Brothers, animated by the Spirit of Faith, as "consecrated persons in community for mission." Just as John Baptist de La Salle was a man of vision who attended to the signs of his times, so too we are called to do the same. But the reality in which we find ourselves is different from that of de La Salle. We must look to the signs of our times and respond to them with the same conviction that de La Salle manifested.

Being in "community for mission" today no longer depends only on the Institute itself. The Institute and religious must find their places among other communities. He called for an emphasis on our founding charism, rather than on an emphasis on preserving the Institute. This reminded me of what a young Brother said the day before, "Vocations will come when there is no ambiguity between what we say and what we do."

Br. Antonio called for us to "recover" community and offer it as a sign of hope and of meaning for the new "children of the artisans and the poor." The option for the poor should be the distinctive feature of our communities. It should be a global "educational proposition."

Following Br. Antonio's address, the members of the Chapter joined a number of guests for the Liturgical celebration of the Centenary. Br. John Johnston welcomed our celebrant for the Liturgy, Father Max Cloupet. Father Cloupet has collaborated with the Brothers for many years. In his introduction, Br. John said, "Father Cloupet was first Regional Director, then National Secretary of Catholic Education in France. He served also as General Delegate to UNESCO for International Catholic Education. Consequently he knows well the reality of the Lasallian mission. That knowledge led him to propose the Institute to UNESCO for the NOMA PRIZE, in recognition of our past and present commitment to literacy programs and to primary education. At the present time Father Cloupet is here in Rome as Rector of S.Luigi dei Francesi." Father Cloupet concelebrated the Liturgy with three priests who are in residence at the Generalate, Fr. Medard, Fr. Juan Victor and Fr. Isaias and a visiting priest from Mexico, Fr. José Manuel.

Carried in procession, during the opening of the Liturgy, was the Bull of Canonization of St. John Baptist de La Salle proclaimed by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900. It was placed on the altar for the duration of the Liturgy. There was a bit of a foot race at the end of the Mass because the Archivist was intent on returning the Bull to its safety in the Archives of the Institute, while several Brothers wanted to see the document. Br. Andre patiently waited for the Brothers to examine the historical document before it was returned.

Following the Liturgy, there was a reception for the Brothers and their guests. I hope all of you can someday visit the Generalate in Rome and experience for yourselves an occasion such as this.

Most of the rest of the week will be dedicated to commission work. There is a General Assembly tomorrow at which time the Government Commission has asked for time for the Chapter members to speak about the qualities they see necessary for next Superior and his Council.

Happy Feast Day.