Démia, Charles

DÉMIA, CHARLES. - Priest, b. at Bourg (Bresse) on 3 Oct. 1636, d. at Ainay (Lyons) on 25 Oct. 1689.

A pupil of the Jesuits and of the Sulpicians, ordained priest in 1663, he first devoted himself to missions. Having returned to his native country, he became archpriest of Bresse and extraordinary visitor of the diocese of Lyons. In Jan. 1667 he established for the indigent class the first free school, soon followed by others: when twelve years later (1679) St. John Baptist de la Salle founded those of Reims, Lyons already possessed twelve "Little Schools," six for boys and as many for girls. The masters, in the founder's mind, destined for the priesthood, and the mistresses, lived together in distinct communities or seminaries, which were at once novitiates and normal schools. He had drawn up for the "Little Schools" sound regulations, which also provided for manual work. The masters availed themselves of the work of monitors called "officers," but retained the care of high supervision and of instruction, following the simultaneous method rather than the mutual one. The Congrégation des Sœurs de St-Charles (with its mother house in Lyons), was founded by the priest D.

Ippolito Vittorio