Jacques Laval was born on September 18, 1803 in Croth (northern France). After studying humanities at the Collège Stanislas de Paris, he earned his medical doctorate in 1830 and was a practicing physician in France for several years. In 1834, a near-fatal accident changed his life, inspiring him to close his medical practice and begin studies to enter the priesthood. He was ordained in 1838, served as a parish priest until 1840, and then joined the Spiritans.

As a Spiritan priest, Fr. Jacques Laval ministered on the island of Mauritius, where most of his parishioners were poor and former slaves. He lived with them, learned their language and culture, and helped them improve their teacher education, sanitation, and agriculture. He also used his medical training to help those who suffered illnesses. He was so successful and beloved there, converting 67,000 parishioners, that he came to be known as the Apostle of Mauritius.

When Laval died on September 9, 1864, it is said that more than 30,000 mourners followed his casket. He became the first beatified Spiritan on April 29, 1979. A building on Duquesne University’s campus is named “Laval House” in his honor, and students in Spiritan formation reside there during their theological studies.

On September 9, we celebrate the Feast of Blessed Jacques Laval to honor the “Apostle of Mauritius,” a man who worked tirelessly to empower and care for a forgotten people. May we strive always to lift up, empower, and care for others with Blessed Jacques Laval as our inspiration.

A Timeline of Blessed Jacques Laval's Life

1803- Laval is born on September 18 in Northern France.

1830- Laval practices as a medical doctor in France.

1834- Laval begins to study to become a priest after a near-death experience. He said, “True. I hesitated all along between the priesthood and medicine. I chose medicine and now I see that I was wrong. God is calling me. This is my vocation. As a priest I shall be able to do more good. I must follow the voice of God.”

1838- Laval is ordained a priest and starts serving as a parish priest. 

1840- Laval feels called to missionary work and joins Francis Libermann in his new community (which eventually joined with the Spiritans). Laval, then, travels to Mauritius, an island off the eastern coast of Africa, to begin his mission work among recently freed slaves. 

In his words: “Port-Louis, where I am working, with around 30,000 people, all of whom have to be visited. We have to teach, catechize, console, visit and administer the sacrament to all these people, so you can see that there is much work to be done. The good Lord for whom we are working has blessed our efforts and has made his word bear fruit.”

Laval serves in Mauritius for the rest of his life. During that time he: 

• Learns the language and culture of the area
• Improves teacher education, sanitation, and agriculture in the area
• Survives and serves during several disease outbreaks
• Is credited with converting 67,000 people 
• Becomes known as “The Apostle of Mauritius
• He also, like anyone else, has periods of tiredness, loneliness, and doubt. 

1864- When he dies on September 9, 1864,  it is said that more than 30,000 mourners follow his casket.

1979- Laval is beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 29. He is the first Spiritan to be Beatified.