St. John Baptist de La Salle: Softball, Sculptures, and Spiritual Childhood

You might be wondering what St. John Baptist de La Salle has to do with softball, sculptures, and spiritual childhoold.

As so many weekends do, this one had me packing bags and hitting the road for a softball tournament—only I didn’t realize God had written something extra into the itinerary.

My daughter’s team was competing in the NCAA Division III tournament at Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. We were there for the sport—for the thrill of competition and the joy of watching her team play. But as God so often does, He had something more waiting for us.

Between games, I took time to explore the university’s campus. It’s a peaceful, beautiful place nestled among the bluffs. As I walked, I came across a sculpture called Stairway to the Stars. Tall, intricate, and mysterious, it spirals upward into the sky, with many symbolic stops along the way.

At first glance, it looked like just another modern art installation. But the longer I examined it, the more it stirred something in me. Those ascending steps led me to reflect on my own life’s journey.

A Sculpture That Tells the Story of Christian Life

Stairway to the Stars is more than steel and structure—it’s a spiritual narrative in sculpture form.

Created in honor of St. John Baptist de La Salle, the central figure is an abstract rendering of the saint himself, rising and extending skyward. His cloak or mantle transforms into a hollow, spiral staircase—and on it are twelve miniature groups, each representing one of the six stages of Christian life.

Among the figures:

• A young couple looking tenderly at each other
• A married couple, expectant with new life
• A priest with arms raised in blessing
• A religious sister joyfully skipping with two children
• Young friends deep in conversation
• Parents and children walking together
• Two Christian Brothers, one resting, the other deep in prayer

This sculpture doesn’t just rise—it tells a story. A story of vocation, community, discipleship, and the quiet heroism of everyday holiness.

Who was Saint John Baptist de La Salle?

St. John Baptist de La Salle, a visionary educator and patron saint of teachers, dedicated his life to transforming education for the poor—and his legacy continues to inspire, as seen in works like the Stairway to the Stars sculpture honoring his impact.

“Do not have any anxiety about the future. Leave everything in God’s hands, for He will take care of you.” — St. John Baptist de La Salle

Born in 1651 in France, St. John Baptist de La Salle is the patron saint of teachers and the founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (also known as the Christian Brothers). He was a pioneer in Catholic education, especially for the poor, and championed the dignity of every child’s soul. He introduced methods of instruction that shaped modern classrooms, but more importantly, he lived a deep trust in God’s providence.

His spirituality is grounded in humility, faith, and the idea that to teach is to touch eternity.

A Divine Nudge: Spiritual Childhood

Earlier in the day, a YouTube video titled “Spiritual Childhood”—inspired by de La Salle’s teachings—appeared in my notifications. I nearly ignored it, but I recognized the Saint’s name in the title:

Hours later, as I reflected on the day, the message hit home:

We’re all on a staircase to God.

And it’s not power or achievement that lifts us—it’s childlike trust, quiet surrender, and the love we give in ordinary vocations.

Seeing the figures on that staircase—priests, religious, families, friends—it struck me how holiness is not a singular path. It’s the unity of many paths all climbing toward Christ.

God in the Ordinary

I’ve always known that God speaks in the silence of prayer, in the Mass, and in sacred scripture. But this weekend reminded me that He also speaks in bleachers, in between games, and through sculptures you didn’t plan to see.

Sometimes He sends His saints ahead of us to prepare the way. Sometimes He speaks through our children. And sometimes, His voice is a soft whisper beneath steel stairs pointing to the stars.

A Prayer for Spiritual Childhood

Lord Jesus,
You told us that unless we become like little children, we cannot enter Your Kingdom.
Teach me the freedom of childlike trust.
Help me to let go of self-reliance and embrace the joy of depending on You.
When I climb in fear, steady my steps. When I stumble, lift me.
Let every moment of my day—ordinary or extraordinary—draw me closer to You, my Father.
Amen.

Personal Reflection

Where is God inviting you to become smaller, more trusting, more childlike this week?

Where is your own “stairway to the stars” quietly waiting to be noticed?