François de Laval
Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral, Quebec City, Quebec , Canada |
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Francis-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval, commonly referred to as François de Laval (30 April 1623 – 6 May 1708), was a French Catholic prelate who served as Apostolic Vicar of New France from 1658 to 1674 and as Bishop of Quebec from its creation in 1674 until he retired due to poor health in 1688. He continued to work in New France until his death in 1708.
Among his accomplishments was the founding of the Séminaire de Québec in 1663. Laval was a member of the Montmorency family, but renounced his rights as heir so he could pursue his ecclesiastical career.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 22 June 1980 and Pope Francis declared him a saint on 3 April 2014.
Early life
Laval was born on 30 April 1623 in Montigny-Sur-Avre in the ancient Province of
Laval's mother served as an example of piety and encouraged him to be charitable to those who were less fortunate.[2] Often described as destined for an ecclesiastical lifestyle, Laval was recognized as a clear-sighted and intelligent boy and he was admitted into the "privileged ranks of those who comprised the Congregation of the Holy Virgin."[4] This was a society founded by the Jesuits, who aimed to inspire young people to adopt religious lifestyles, and encouraged regular prayer and spiritual practices. At the age of eight, Laval received the tonsure and took minor orders, which then allowed him to enter the College of La Flèche in 1631,[3] an institution that educated the sons of the elite families and guaranteed him a good education. There Laval came into contact with reports of the Jesuit missions to the Huron in Canada, which inspired him to become a missionary, like his patron saint Francis Xavier.[3]
In 1637, Laval was appointed a canon of the
However the death of his two eldest brothers in the battles at Nördlingen in 1634 and Freiburg in 1644 made him the head of the family. His mother, the Bishop of Évreux, and his cousin all argued he should abandon his ecclesiastical career.[6] Instead Laval helped his mother settle the family's affairs and renounced his rights of primogeniture, which then passed to his brother Jean-Louis.[7]
Laval returned to his studies in Paris and on 1 May 1647 he was
Freed of all responsibility, Laval spent three years at a
New France
Background
Appointing a bishop was a contentious issue disputed between the Jesuits and the newly arrived
The Holy See remained reserved regarding Laval's nomination, as the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith wanted to assert papal authority in the colony[3] rather than allow the Jesuits to exercise control in a new diocese that was part of the ecclesiastical structure of the Catholic Church in France. Instead of naming Laval bishop of the diocese of New France, he was made a bishop of a newly created apostolic vicariate, a type of jurisdiction directly managed by the Holy See through the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith: the Apostolic Vicariate of New France.[16]
Vicariate of New France
On 3 June 1658, the
While small in size, the colony still provided a number of challenges to Laval.[3] He found himself having to make concessions where he never thought to before to a population that, while scarce, was spread out, and was less inclined to continue under strict church discipline.[18] Additionally, he had to deal with the Sulpician de Queylus, who had been managing Church affairs in the colony as vicar general under the authority of the Archbishop of Rouen, who continued to claim ecclesiastical jurisdiction over New France. De Queylus continued to assert his authority for nearly two years, while Laval repeatedly appealed to the king and the Holy See for support.[19]
Laval struggled a great deal throughout his career to defend the church's power against state intrusion. Upon his arrival, Laval was adamant in asserting his primacy over the governor.[19] He was immediately in opposition with Governor d’Argenson, particularly regarding ceremony and protocol.[19] Also, the issue of selling alcohol to the natives further fueled their feud. Laval believed that intoxicated natives were an embarrassment to the colony and endangered the lives of those around them.[20] He quickly imposed the threat of excommunication on those who continued to deal in this trade. Governor D’Argenson abhorred this action, deeming it an intrusion of church into state affairs.[20] D’Argenson soon resigned and was replaced by d’Avaugour, who, in order to avoid any conflict with Laval, decreed harsh penalties against anyone caught selling alcohol to the natives.[20] Again, Laval was displeased, believing that excommunication was a far more humane consequence. When alcohol was again being sold freely to natives, in a moment of despair over the state of New France, Laval departed for France in August 1662 to consult with Louis XIV on the matter.[20] Laval succeeded in bringing about d’Avaugour's recall the following year.[21]
When Laval returned to New France he had increased powers. King Louis XIV had assured Laval that he would have a future appointment as bishop, requested that he establish a Sovereign Council in Quebec, and even asked Laval to choose New France's next governor.[22] For governor, Laval chose Chevalier de Mézy, a friend from his time at the Hermitage of Caen.[22] In the developing Sovereign Council, which held its first session 18 September 1663, Mézy represented the first figure of authority, followed by Laval, and Gaudais-Dupon, commissioner.[23] Laval appointed Mézy hoping to have an ally among high-ranking state official. In the trade of alcohol to the natives he did find in Mézy an ally; together the two forbade the trading of alcohol.[23] However, constituting the Sovereign Council revealed that the two represented conflicting interests in matters of church and state. Soon, another conflict between Laval and governor ensued, leading Laval to take to the streets with drums to tell his version of the feud.[24] Upon Mézy's death, the Sovereign council was reorganized. Intendant Jean Talon was added, and immediately assumed the functions previously exercised by Laval.[24] With this change in the council Laval began to attend the council's meetings less frequently; from then on Laval retreated somewhat from state affairs and focused purely on ecclesiastical matters.[24]
One of Laval's principal projects as apostolic vicar was the education and training of priests and church administrators.
Laval's view of the Grand Séminaire was greater than a mere teaching academy. He hoped that it would become a home for all parochial priests. Laval encouraged them to see it as their true home and as a place to which they may turn to in sickness or old age.
Laval shared a large part of his administrative work with other clerics to develop their experience. To lead the seminary he appointed his companion from France, Henri de Bernière, linking this role with Bernière's other assignment a pastor of the parish of Quebec. Furthermore, he also appointed five other directors who would form the bishop's advisory body.[30] In 1668 he appointed the previously troublesome de Queylus as the first Superior of a new seminary in Ville-Marie.[citation needed][when?]
Laval also took interest in practical education for craftsmen and farmers, founding a school of arts and crafts at Saint-Joachim.[30][when?]
Diocese of Quebec
In 1674, fifteen years after his arrival in New France, Laval asked that the vicariate be promoted to a diocese. The Holy See established the Diocese of Quebec on 1 October 1674, naming Laval as its first bishop.[19]
He revisited the issue of alcohol sales to the indigenous peoples. In 1675, Laval, over the objections of Governor Louis de Buade de Frontenac, excommunicated all who sold alcohol to them.[31] On 24 May 1679 Laval succeeded in obtaining a royal decree banning the trade.[3]
In 1678, he obtained a royal edict stating that permanent curacies would be established in the colony. In 1681, he drew up the boundaries of parishes.
Retirement
Laval eventually realised that his health was declining and that he could no longer run his large diocese, which extended from Acadia to Lake Michigan. In 1688, he passed on his responsibilities as bishop to Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier.[32]
Laval continued to collaborate with the colony's high religious authorities, until his last days. He helped the poor with his presence and his gifts of charity. He never missed a Mass or a day of fasting, despite his ever declining health. By 1707, he had developed an ulcer which eventually took his life on 6 May 1708.[33] His body was placed in a coffin in the cathedral; however his heart was kept in the chapel of the seminary to which he had dedicated most of his life and fortune.[34]
Veneration
Saint François de Laval | |
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Bishop of Québec | |
Born | 30 April 1623 Montigny-sur-Avre, Perche, Kingdom of France |
Died | 6 May 1708 Quebec, Viceroyalty of New France, French colonial empire | (aged 85)
Venerated in | Catholic Church |
Canonized | 3 April 2014, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City by Pope Francis |
Major shrine | Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec |
Feast | 6 May |
Attributes | Episcopal attire |
Patronage | Bishops of Canada |
Laval's remains have been entombed in a shrine for personal veneration in the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec. His cause was formally opened on 24 September 1890, granting him the title of Servant of God.[35] He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980. He was granted Equivalent canonization on 3 April 2014 by Pope Francis.[36]
In 1663, Laval founded Séminaire de Québec and in 1852 it was named renamed to Université Laval in his honour. The city of Laval, Quebec, immediately north of Montreal, is also named after him.[37]
Notes
- Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, which oversaw the missionary work of the Catholic Church and the Portuguese royal court jeopardized the mission and de Rhodes' project was abandoned by the end of 1654.[3]
- ^ The language used in the 16th century was different from modern usage of the term "titular bishop". Laval was assigned an ancient abandoned see and named bishop in partibus infidelium ("in the lands of the unbelievers").
References
- ^ Bégin 1959, p. 25.
- ^ a b c Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Vachon.
- ^ a b Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 20.
- ^ a b Bégin 1959, p. 15.
- ^ Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 21.
- ^ Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 22.
- ^ Bégin 1959, p. 19.
- ^ a b Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 23.
- ^ Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 24.
- ^ Choquette 2004, p. 105.
- ^ a b c Walsh 1966, p. 102.
- ^ Choquette 2004, p. 106.
- ^ Walsh 1966, pp. 104–105.
- ^ a b Walsh 1966, p. 105.
- ^ Choquette 2004, p. 108; Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 26.
- ^ Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 26.
- ^ Walsh 1966, p. 133.
- ^ a b c d Choquette 2004, p. 109.
- ^ a b c d Walsh 1966, p. 134.
- ^ Walsh 1966, pp. 134–135.
- ^ a b Walsh 1966, p. 135.
- ^ a b Campeau 1973, p. 327.
- ^ a b c Walsh 1966, p. 136.
- ^ a b c Walsh 1966, p. 137.
- ^ a b Plouffe.
- ^ Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 105.
- ^ Campeau 1973, p. 323.
- ^ Campeau 1973, p. 319.
- ^ a b c Walsh 1966, p. 138.
- ^ Walsh 1966, p. 150.
- ^ Walsh 1966, pp. 151–52.
- ^ Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 261.
- ^ Leblond de Brumath 1906, p. 265.
- ^ Index ac status causarum beatificationis servorum dei et canonizationis beatorum (in Latin). Typis polyglottis vaticanis. January 1953. p. 75.
- ^ Wooden, Cindy (3 April 2014). "Pope declares by decree three new saints for the Americas". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- ^ Laval (city) at Britannica
- Sources
- Bégin, Émile (1959). François de Laval. Quebec: Presses Universitaires Laval.
- Campeau, Lucien (1973). "Mgr de Laval et le Conseil souverain 1659–1684". Revue d'Histoire de l'Amérique Française. 27 (3): 323–359. doi:10.7202/303281ar.
- Choquette, Robert (2004). "The Development of the Catholic Church". Canada's Religions. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.
- Leblond de Brumath, Adrien (1906). Bishop Laval. Toronto: Morang & Co.
- Plouffe, Hélène. "Séminaire de Québec". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- Vachon, André. "Laval, François de". The Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- Walsh, Henry Horace (1966). The Church in the French era from colonization to the British conquest. Toronto: Ryerson Press.