Called in religion "a Matre Dei", founder of the Piarists, b. 11
Sept., 1556, at the castle of Calasanza near Petralta de la Sal
in Aragon; d. 25 Aug., 1648, at Rome; feast 27 Aug. His parents,
Don Pedro Calasanza and Donna Maria Gastonia, gave Joseph, the
youngest of five children, a good education at home and then at
the school of Petralta. After his classical studies at Estadilla
he took up philosophy and jurisprudence at Lérida and merited
the degree of Doctor of Laws, and then with honours completed
his theological course at Valencia and Alcalá de Henares. His
mother and brother having died, Don Pedro wanted Joseph to marry
and perpetuate the family. God interfered by sending a sickness
in 1582 which soon brought Joseph to the brink of the grave. On
his recovery he was ordained priest 17 Dec., 1583, by Hugo
Ambrose de Moncada, Bishop of Urgel. Joseph began his labours as
priest in the Diocese of Albarracin, where Bishop della Figuera
appointed him his theologian and confessor, synodal examiner,
and procu