Saint François de Laval

Francis-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval, commonly referred to as François de Laval , was considered the founder of the Catholic faith in New France. He was a French Catholic prelate who served as Apostolic Vicar of New France from 1658 to 1674. In 1674, he was given the diocese, making him the first bishop of Quebec. He held this position 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 via cadet branch of the House of Laval, 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. 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 Michelle de Péricard (daughter of Nicolas Péricard and Anne de Chantelou) was from a family of hereditary officers of the Crown in Normandy. Her brother was François de Péricard, bishop of Évreux. Despite his family's heritage, his parents were not considered to be wealthy. Montigny was considered equivalent to a good-sized market-town. François (Francis) was baptized on 30 April 1623 in St. Martin's Church in Montigny-sur-Avre. He was named after Francis Xavier canonized in 1622, by Pope Gregory XV. Laval had five brothers and two sisters. His youngest brother Henri entered the Benedictine Order and his sister Anne Charlotte entered the Congregation of Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. He was a descendant of John of Brienne, Berengaria of León, Louis of Brienne, Guy VII de Laval and Matthew II of Montmorency. Laval's mother served as an example of piety and encouraged him to be charitable to those who were less fortunate.