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  arly on René-Robert Cavalier showed the qualities that would help him overcome all obstacles in pursuit of his dream. He was born in 1643, second son of the wealthy merchant Jean Cavelier of Rouen, a trading city in the northwest corner of France.René-Robert so outshone his brothers and sisters that his father gave him the estate of La Salle. At that time a man was defined by his property, so René-Robert became known as La Salle. At nine, they sent the bright young boy for the best education available in seventeenth-century France, a grammar school run by Jesuit priests. One of the most demanding Catholic orders, the Jesuits brought Christianity to the far reaches of the world. Jesuit missionaries were the heroes of the day. Published accounts of their dramatic exploits captivated the bright, adventurous boy. La Salle studied Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian, as well as the sciences of the day, geography, astronomy, and navigation. He followed the strict rule of the monastery where study and prayer began at five in the morning and continued until nine at night. Excelling at his studies, La Salle was invited to become a Jesuit when only seventeen. He knew it wasn't an easy life, but if he could travel to exotic lands it would be worth it. The Jesuit missions, particularly in China, were irresistible. La Salle weighed danger, excitement, and glory against a safe but dull merchant's life in Rouen and chose the Jesuits. He readily gave up his inheritance, taking the solemn vow of poverty as demanded by the order. |