Piarists

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Piarists are a Catholic religious order officially called the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools. They were founded in 1617 in Rome by Saint Joseph Calasanz to teach children, especially the poor, for free. They are the oldest religious group focused on education.

Their big idea was simple: every child deserves a good education. Calasanz had started Europe’s first free public school, and the Piarists turned teaching into their way of life. A special fourth vow was added, promising to dedicate themselves to the Christian education of youth, particularly the poor. They opened many schools across Italy and then in other parts of Europe.

The order received approval from the pope in the early 1620s and grew into different regions, or provinces. They built important schools like the Collegio Nazareno in Rome. Calasanz faced difficulties and was briefly put under pressure by the Inquisition, but the order was restored a few years later. Calasanz died in 1648 and was later canonized as a saint. In 1948, Pope Pius XII named him the Universal Patron of all Christian popular schools in the world for his work in promoting education.

Over the centuries, the Piarists expanded beyond Europe to the Americas, Africa, Asia, and beyond. They opened schools, colleges, and seminaries in places like the Philippines, Cuba, the United States, Argentina, and many other countries. Today, they work in about 36 countries on five continents, with roughly 1,400 members, including priests and lay brothers.

The Piarists use the motto Pietas et Litterae, meaning “Piety and Learning.” Their work continues to focus on helping students grow in faith and knowledge, especially those who are most in need. The order has influenced many other educators and has left a lasting mark on how education is viewed in the Catholic world.