St. Joseph Calasanz (1556–1648) was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest, teacher, and founder of the Order of Poor Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools (the Piarists), a religious teaching order that, in addition to the usual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, practice a fourth vow—the special care of youth. Calasanz opened Europe’s first free school for poor children in 1597 and worked for the education of poor children in Rome. He is venerated as the patron saint of all Christian schools.
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