François de Laval
| Saint François de Laval, M.E.P. | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Québec | |
Missionary and bishop
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| Archdiocese | Holy See |
| Diocese | Quebec |
| Appointed | 1 October 1674 |
| Term ended | 24 January 1688 |
| Successor | Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1 May 1647 |
| Consecration | 8 December 1658 by Celio Piccolomini |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
30 April 1623 Montigny-sur-Avre, Perche, Kingdom of France |
| Died | 6 May 1708 (aged 85) Quebec, Viceroyalty of New France, French colonial empire |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Hugues de Laval & Michelle de Péricard |
| Previous post |
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| Signature |  |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 6 May |
| Venerated in |
Roman Catholic Church (Canada) |
| Title as Saint | Bishop |
| Beatified | 22 June 1980 Vatican City, by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonized | 3 April 2014 by Pope Francis |
| Shrines | Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Ordination history of François de Laval | |
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Priestly ordination
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| Date of ordination | 1 May 1647 |
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Episcopal consecration
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| Principal consecrator | Celio Piccolomini |
| Co-consecrator | Hardouin de Péréfixe de Beaumont |
| Co-consecrator | André du Saussay |
| Date of consecration | 8 December 1658 |
Saint Francis-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval, M.E.P., commonly referred to as François de Laval (30 April 1623 – 6 May 1708), was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Quebec, appointed when he was 36 years old by Pope Alexander VII.
Laval was a member of the Montmorency family and was one of the most influential men of his day. He was a candidate for canonization by the Catholic Church after his death and was beatified in 1980 by Pope John Paul II. On 3 April 2014 Pope Francis made him a saint by "equipollent canonization".
Laval was born on 30 April 1623 in Montigny-sur-Avre in the ancient Province of Perche, now the Department of Eure-et-Loir. His father, Hugues de Laval, a member of the House of Laval, was the Seigneur of Montigny, Montbaudry, Alaincourt and Revercourt. His mother, Micheille de Péricard was from a family of hereditary officers of the Crown in Normandy. Despite his noble descent, his parents were not considered to be wealthy. Montigny was considered equivalent to a good-sized market-town. Laval had five other brothers and two sisters; two of these siblings would also pursue religious paths in life. His youngest brother, Henri, entered the Benedictine Order and his sister, Anne Charlotte, entered the Congregation of Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
Throughout his life, Laval’s mother continuously served as an example of piety and encouraged him to be charitable to those who were less fortunate. Often described as destined for an ecclesiastical lifestyle, Laval was quickly recognized as a clear-sighted and intelligent boy. As a result, he was admitted into the "privileged ranks of those who comprised the Congregation of the Holy Virgin." 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. This institution was attended by the sons of the elite families in France; hence, Laval was guaranteed a good education. Moreover, it was during this period that Laval came into contact with reports of the Jesuit missions amongst the Huron in Canada, which influenced his desire to become a missionary, like his patron saint, Francis Xavier. In 1637, Laval was appointed a canon of the Cathedral of Évreux by the Bishop of Évreux.
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Wikipedia