Archbishop of Rouen) Grand Vicar of the missionaries in Canada, with the
entire spiritual control of New France. He was received both at Quebec
and Ville-Marie with all the respect due to his dignity and birth,
encountering no opposition in the discharge of his duties in either
city. M. Souart was appointed pastor of Ville-Marie, the Jesuit Father,
Claude Pigots, who had until then discharged the duties of pastor,
resigning gracefully in his favor.

The new pastor before becoming a Sulpician, had been a rich aristocratic
Parisian. His parents, expecting he would have a brilliant career in the
world, almost forced upon him a marriage suitable to his rank and
wealth, and the day of the ceremony, which was the Feast of the
Assumption, 1660, was fast approaching. His simple piety led him on the
eve of that day to the parish church of St. Sulpice, where he heard an
eloquent sermon, on the necessity of seeking light from heaven in the
choice of a state of life. He was deeply impressed by the preacher's
convincing eloquence, and entering into himself, found that he had not
sufficiently consulted God on the alliance he was about to contract. The
next day, therefore, instead of plighting his troth to a willing bride,
he went to the seminary of St. Sulpice to make a retreat, during which
Divine Providence clearly manifested to him that he was called to the
ecclesiastical state. Faithful to the call of divine grace he renounced
the world, entered St. Sulpice, and devoted his young life and rare
talents to the service of the Church. He was joyfully admitted into the
seminary, and having already received a university education, was soon
promoted to holy orders, and raised to the dignity of the priesthood.
His glowing zeal impelled him to volunteer for the mission of
Ville-Marie, where he eventually succeeded M. de Quelus as Superior of
the Montreal Seminary, which he governed happily for many years. He was
the first priest who undertook the perilous task of forming the baptized