Joseph Calasanz, priest and Spanish saint, was born in Peralta de la Sal, province of Huesca, Spain in 1557 and died in Rome on 25 August 1648. Son of Pedro Calasanz and Mur and Mary Gaston and Hall, noblemen, was the seventh and last of their children. Calasanz's house is one of the oldest in the Aragonese nobility and brings its origin in Fortuñones, second best branch of the royal house of Aragon, gentlemen of the town and castle of Calasanz. He studied philosophy, law and theology at the universities of Lleida, Valencia and Alcalá de Henares, and his Ph.D. in Lleida. Ordained in the year 1583. After he worked for a time ordained in the diocese of Lerida and Copenhagen. After some years he moved to Rome in 1592, with the intention of obtaining a position in the hierarchy. Between 1592 and 1602 was a tutor of the nephews of Cardinal Marco Antonio Colonna and helping catechesis on Sunday the pastor of the church of Santa Dorotea in Trastevere district. It was here where he observed the many orphans and poor children living in the streets. Joseph Calasanz decided that the care of these children would be his main work and materialized with the opening of a small school on the premises of the parish of St. Dorothy of Trastevere, which is considered the first free public school of history. In 1612 the school moved to St. Pantaleone, who will become the headquarters of the Pious Schools. Other priests soon joined him and thus was born the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Pious Schools, which spread through the rest of Italy, Spain and Germany. These priests are known today as parents Escolapios. Years later there was an internal crisis in the work and because of various intrigues and external tensions, Calasanz was imprisoned briefly and interrogated by the Inquisition. Calasanz also was involved in a struggle of political interests and intrigues of ambitious characters that ended with his removal from office of General of the Order which he had founded, falling into disgrace and was replaced by one of his detractors. During the years following the misfortune continues Calasanz and the Congregation is undermined to the point that his work so many years is in danger of collapse. In 1648, still in disgrace, Calasanz died almost 91 years of age and was buried at St. Pantaleon. Eight years after his death, Pope Alexander VII restored the Pious Schools. His long life was dedicated to education of youth. San Jose de Calasanz is one of the forerunners of modern pedagogy. Years after his death opened his beatification process that took effect in 1748, and was later canonized by Pope Clement XIII. His feast day is August 25 and their sponsorship of Catholic Education on November 27. Several religious congregations are now his charisma, including Escolapias founded by Paula Montal, and Calasanz.