The French prelate François Xavier de Laval (1623-1708) was the first bishop of Quebec. He has been called the father of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada.

François Xavier de Laval was born on April 30, 1623, in Montigny-sur-Avre (Eure-et-Loir), France. He was one of eight children of Hugues de Laval and Michelle de Péricord. His father, who possessed considerable estates, traced his descent from the illustrious Laval family and also from the Montmorencys, for centuries one of the leading noble families of France. The atmosphere in the lordly family château was one of piety. One son became a Benedictine abbot; one daughter, superior of a convent. At the age of 8 François began 10 years of literary and philosophical studies at La Flèche, the best Jesuit college in the country, where he was a good student. While there he...