Santiago Laval (1805–1864)

Biography

He worked hard and allowed himself certain luxuries, such as horses, which he loved very much. However, this single life lasted only five years, as Santiago began to long for his faith and finally decided and answered the call that God made to him by ordaining himself a priest. A few years later he decided, with the permission of his superiors, to go with Father Liberman, of the Congregation of the Fathers of the Holy Spirit, which was a society of priests consecrated to the mission in Africa. Five months after his arrival in Mauritius, Father Laval described the situation like this: "The corruption and rampant vice is incredible. There are about 80,000 blacks on the island: half are not baptized, and those who are live as pagans. However, with the work and holiness of Father Laval, an evangelization was carried out that, in collaboration with those who were being baptized, began a movement of conversions throughout the island and chapels multiplied everywhere, like the blossoming of a supernatural spring. A missionary who was a collaborator of Father Laval for 17 years, will later say: "I still admire myself when I remember the enormous work carried out by such poor Christians." about 63,000 souls, and the sincere affection of all.