Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier

Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de St. Vallier (November 14, 1653 – December 26, 1727) was a French Catholic prelate who served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Quebec in the French colony of New France.

Born in Grenoble, France, in 1653 to a wealthy land owning family, Saint Vallier swiftly became a community figure, known for founding a hospital. He was named bishop of Quebec in 1685 by King Louis XIV on the recommendation of Bishop François de Laval, the first bishop of Quebec. Often referred to as Abbé Saint-Vallier, he was a controversial figure as Bishop of Quebec, since he rarely listened to advice. He spent large amounts of money that left the seminary in great debt at the time of death in 1727. He was deeply involved in the Catholic reform tradition and promoted several missions throughout Canada.

He was seen as a very strict leader for most of his reign. He refused demands for his resignation both by the King and the religious of New France. He was suspected of Jansenism, and his administration of the diocese led to popular revolts and struggles with various religious groups. Accomplishments during his 42-year reign include: the founding of the Hôpital-Général de Québec (1692); the edifice for the bishop (1688); commissioning architect Hilaire Bernard de La Rivière to build Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church; and the installations of religious reformist communities in the Montreal area. The development of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec and Roman Catholic faith was his utmost priority and interest; he was particularly sensible on the point of morality, which he believed was failing in his see. He was also greatly involved with the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris.

Early life

Jean-Baptiste Saint-Vallier was born on November 14, 1653, to Jean de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier and Marie de Sayve. His father was a magistrate in Grenoble who later worked for the French diplomatic services. He belonged to the La Croix family of the French province of Dauphiné; his family included country noblemen, army officers, magistrates and ambassadors other royal courts. Jean-Baptiste's mother was the daughter of a magistrate in Dijon.

Deciding to become a priest, Saint-Vallier entered the seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, where he obtained his Licentiate in Theology in 1672 at age 19 years. In 1676, he was appointed as almoner-in-ordinary, in charge of helping the poor, to King Louis XIV, probably due to the La Croix family connections.

The French colonies were inhabited by numerous First Nations tribes and European settlers. The European colonists included farmers, fishermen, sailors, merchants and ‘coureurs des bois. New France was governed by a French aristocratic elite in Quebec City. Like many of them, St. Vallier was a slave owner.

Between 1685 and 1730, the European population in New France jumped from 12,000 to 41,500. However, during the same period the First Nations population decreased from 163,500 to 61,500 due to diseases from Europe and warfare.

Vicar-General of Quebec

Before Saint-Vallier arrived in Quebec in 1685, Laval appointed him as vicar general, placing him in charge of the diocese. Since Pope Innocent XI was feuding with Louis XIV, the pope would not allow Saint-Vallier's consecration as bishop. Laval remained in France.

1691 France In 1691, Saint-Vallier went to Paris to resolve the conflict with the Seminary of Quebec. Louis XIV appointed Archbishop François de Harlay de Champvallon of Paris and Reverend François de la Chaise, his private confessor, to serve as arbitrators. Saint-Vallier accused the Seminary of attempting to circumvent his authority. The Seminary accused him of being tyrannical and harboring sympathies for Jansenism. The arbitrators ruled in favor of Saint-Vallier and placed the Seminary under his direct control. He then returned to Quebec.

On May 10, 1664, Saint-Vallier became embroiled in a conflict with Governor Louis de Buade de Frontenac over a prie-dieu, or prayer desk. This dispute occurred before an ordination ceremony at a church operated by the Recollet Order in Montreal. When Saint-Vallier entered the church, he found Frontenac's prie-dieu to be in a better spot than his own. The Recollect superior then moved it. When Frontenac's aides arrived, they moved his prie-dieu back to its original position. Saint-Vallier got angry and tried to force Frontenac to sit elsewhere; he refused and left the church.

1694 to 1697 France By the end of 1694, Louis XIV was receiving numerous complaints about Saint-Vallier from New France. The Seminary of Quebec, the religious orders, the civil authorities were all unhappy with his actions. The king then ordered Saint-Vallier to meet with him in Paris. During this meeting, Louis XIV asked Saint-Vallier to resign as bishop of Quebec, which he refused to do. Lacking any grounds on which to remove him a bishop, the king instead barred Saint-Vallier from returning to Quebec.

1697 to 1700 New France After returning to Quebec, Saint-Vallier in 1697 built a palace, or residence, in Quebec for his clergy and as a place of hospitality. During the same year, he also established a monastery for religious sisters in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

Saint-Vallier asked the Sorbonne University in Paris to examine his three writings for heresy. The doctors of the Faculty of Theology declared Ritual and the Catechism to be perfectly orthodox. They then censured Bouvart for making these allegations against Saint-Vallier.

1704 to 1709 England

In 1704, Saint-Vallier sailed from La Rochelle, France to Quebec. At this time, France was at war with Great Britain in the War of the Spanish Succession. While Saint-Vallier's ship was passing through the Azores, it was captured by an English vessel and brought to England. The English placed Saint-Vallier under house arrest.

In return for Saint-Vallier's release, Anne, Queen of Great Britain, wanted the French to release the Baron de Méan, the dean of the Liège Cathedral in the Southern Netherlands. Louis XIV was reluctant to release de Méan as he was a key British ally. In addition, many of the king's advisors were glad to be rid of Saint-Vallier and all the problems he caused. During his four years in English captivity, Saint-Vallier's health gradually deteriorated.

1709 to 1713 France In 1709, Louis XIV finally agreed to the prisoner exchange and the English released Saint-Vallier. However, not wanting more conflicts in New France, the king again denied him permission to return to Quebec.

Saint-Vallier wrote to Louis XIV about the dire state of the Catholic Church in the diocese and begged permission to return there. The king finally acquiesced in 1713.

1713 to 1727 New France In 1713, after 13 years in France and England, Saint-Vallier finally returned to Quebec. Now age 60 and in frail health, Saint-Vallier had no wish to precipitate any more quarrels with the civil and church authorities in New France. He gave up residence in the bishop's palace and moved into a room in the Hôpital général de Québec.

Death and legacy Saint-Vallier died on December 26, 1727, in the Hôpital Général in Quebec City. His last words were: "Forget me, but do not forget my poor".

The Abbot August Gosselin described Saint-Vallier in the late 19th century: "Especially by his great virtues and the holiness of his life, he is revealed in history with the halo of charity and disinterest: his memory shall be eternal"