Blessed Jacques-Désiré Laval

Life story

Jacques-Désiré Laval was born on 18 September 1803 at Croth in Eure, France. He studied medicine in Paris, took his doctorate in 1830 and practised as a physician for a few years. According to sources, a serious riding accident around 1834 or 1835 prompted him to choose the priesthood.

In 1835 he entered the seminary of Saint-Sulpice, where he became a friend of François Libermann, and he was ordained a priest in 1838. After some years as a parish priest in France he joined the missionary congregation founded by Libermann, which later merged with the Spiritans, and in 1841 he was sent to Mauritius.

Most of his parishioners were poor, uneducated people, many of them recently freed slaves. He lived among them, learned their language, taught the catechism in Creole, trained catechists, set up a relief fund run by the faithful and built rural chapels. He is often called the 'Apostle of Mauritius'.

He died on 9 September 1864 at Port Louis. Each year on that day thousands of pilgrims visit his tomb. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1979, and his feast is 9 September.

Works and witness

• Took a medical doctorate in 1830 and practised as a physician
• Ordained priest in 1838
• Went to Mauritius in 1841 to serve freed slaves
• Trained catechists, taught in Creole and set up a relief fund
• Died 9 September 1864; beatified in 1979

Saints from the same country

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Louis IX of France, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Francis de Sales

References

• Dictionary of African Christian Biography: 'Laval, Jacques' (dacb.org/stories/mauritius/laval-jacques)
• Mission Priest: 'Bl. Jacques Désiré Laval: Apostle of Mauritius' (missionpriest.com)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.