Antoine La Vallette
Encyclopedia
Antoine de Lavalette was a French jesuit clergyman, Superior of the Martinique missions, whose bankruptcy led to the suppression of the Society of Jesus in France.
He became a member of the Society of Jesus
in Toulouse, 10 October, 1725, was ordained priest in 1740, and in 1741 sent as missionary to the island of Martinique
. In 1754 he was named superior-general of all the Jesuit missions in the French possessions in Central and South America.
He was accused about the same time of engaging in commerce, contrary to the canon law
, and summoned to Paris
for trial; but his defense was undertaken by the authorities in Martinique, and the matter was allowed to drop for the time. His conduct afterward was one of the causes that led to the downfall of his order. His mission was heavily in debt, and to restore it to financial prosperity he made extensive purchases of land in Dominica
, and engaged in various commercial ventures, borrowing large sums of money when these proved unsuccessful.
When Lorenzo Ricci
, the Jesuit general, was informed of this, in 1757, he sent three visitors to Martinique, all of whom met with mishaps that prevented them from arriving. At last, in the spring of 1762, the fourth visitor, Father de la Marche, reached the island, and organized a tribunal of the principal fathers of the mission, before whom Lavalette appeared.
Lavalette was condemned and suspended from all ecclesiastical functions until their report was laid before the general of the order in Rome. He signed a confession declaring that he alone was guilty, and after his confession he went to England, where he was notified of his expulsion from the society by the Jesuit general.
Lavalette gave information to his superiors by which it appeared his debts amounted to 2,400,000 livres. The French Jesuits were making an effort to settle with the creditors when the case was brought before the courts, the whole Society was held responsible for the debt, and a decree was issued for the seizure of all their property. This rendered the Society in France bankrupt, and led to the royal edict of November, 1764, which abolished the order in that country.
He became a member of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in Toulouse, 10 October, 1725, was ordained priest in 1740, and in 1741 sent as missionary to the island of Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
. In 1754 he was named superior-general of all the Jesuit missions in the French possessions in Central and South America.
He was accused about the same time of engaging in commerce, contrary to the canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
, and summoned to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for trial; but his defense was undertaken by the authorities in Martinique, and the matter was allowed to drop for the time. His conduct afterward was one of the causes that led to the downfall of his order. His mission was heavily in debt, and to restore it to financial prosperity he made extensive purchases of land in Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
, and engaged in various commercial ventures, borrowing large sums of money when these proved unsuccessful.
When Lorenzo Ricci
Lorenzo Ricci
Lorenzo Ricci was an Italian Jesuit, elected the 18th Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was also the last before the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773.-Early Life and career:Ricci was born in Florence, Italy...
, the Jesuit general, was informed of this, in 1757, he sent three visitors to Martinique, all of whom met with mishaps that prevented them from arriving. At last, in the spring of 1762, the fourth visitor, Father de la Marche, reached the island, and organized a tribunal of the principal fathers of the mission, before whom Lavalette appeared.
Lavalette was condemned and suspended from all ecclesiastical functions until their report was laid before the general of the order in Rome. He signed a confession declaring that he alone was guilty, and after his confession he went to England, where he was notified of his expulsion from the society by the Jesuit general.
Lavalette gave information to his superiors by which it appeared his debts amounted to 2,400,000 livres. The French Jesuits were making an effort to settle with the creditors when the case was brought before the courts, the whole Society was held responsible for the debt, and a decree was issued for the seizure of all their property. This rendered the Society in France bankrupt, and led to the royal edict of November, 1764, which abolished the order in that country.