
OUR HISTORY
"Look to the past with gratitude,
live the present with passion,
and embrace the future with hope."
Pope Francis
BISHOP LAMBERT'S TIMELINE
PLACE OF BIRTH 1624
Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte, founder of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, was born on January 28, 1624, in Lisieux, France. His parents were Pierre Lambert de la Motte and Catherine Heudey de Pommainville et de Bocquencey. Baptized on February 15, 1624, at Saint Jacques Church across from his family home, he was the eldest son among seven siblings.

Bishop Lambert's childhood home

Saint Jacques Church
1633 CHILDHOOD
At the age of nine in 1633, Pierre Lambert de la Motte felt inspired by God to gather those devoted to the Holy Cross of Jesus, envisioning a congregation named the Lovers of the Holy Cross. At age ten, he began studying at the Collège du Mont, a Jesuit boarding school in Caen. During his teenage years there, he was guided by Father Hallé, likely a member of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans).
JUDGE 1646
After graduating, Lambert studied law and became a lawyer, following his noble family’s judicial tradition. While serving as a judge, he actively participated in moral, social, and charitable ministries in Normandy’s churches. Influenced by his close friendship with St. John Eudes, Lambert left his judicial career to enter the seminary.

Collège Du Mont in Caen

Courthouse in Rouen
1655 PRIESTHOOD
To prepare for ordination, Lambert made a pilgrimage of humility from Caen to Rennes. On December 27, 1655, at age 31, he was ordained a priest on the feast of St. John the Evangelist at the Cathedral of Bayeux.
In 1656, Father Lambert became director of the Social Service Center in Rouen, under the Eucharist Association, focusing on educating orphans, assisting the elderly, and supporting marginalized women.
BISHOP 1659


On September 9, 1659, the Holy See decreed the “Super Cathedram” which appointed Father Pierre de la Motte as Apostolic Vicar of South Vietnam. On June 11, 1660, Father Pierre Lambert de la Motte was ordained a bishop in the Visitation Order’s chapel, Sainte Marie, in Paris.
Cathedral of Bayeux
Social Service Center

Sainte Marie Chapel
1660 JOURNEY TO THE FAR-EAST
On September 9, 1659, the Vatican also tasked Bishop Lambert and Bishop François Pallu with overseeing evangelization in the Far East, assigning Lambert responsibility for Cochinchina, Champa, Cambodia, four western provinces of South China, and Hainan Island.
THE MISSIONARY WORK 1662

After a journey of over two years, Bishop Lambert arrived in Juthia (Ayutthaya), Thailand, on August 22, 1662. From 1662 to 1676, despite numerous challenges, he accomplished significant evangelical works: Conducted apostolic visitations in the Southern and Northern Dioceses of Vietnam. Ordained local priests. Convened the Council of Juthia in 1664. Formed the Mission Association in 1665. Wrote instructions for missionaries’ apostolates. Established St. Joseph Seminary for the Far East. Founded the Association of the Lovers of the Holy Cross. Summoned the Council of Phố Hiến in 1670. Established Congregations of the Lovers of the Holy Cross in Northern and Southern Vietnam (1670–1671). Convened the Council of Hội An in 1672. Formed the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross in Thailand in 1672. Ordained Bishop Ignace Cotolendi’s successor, Bishop Louis Laneau, as Apostolic Vicar in 1674.

1679 HOLY DEATH
At 4:00 a.m. on June 15, 1679, Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte died in Ayutthaya, Thailand, after suffering from intestinal disease and kidney stones. In his final days, he remained in silent prayer, united with the Crucified Christ, and prayed, “Increase my suffering, increase my endurance” (“Auge dolorem, auge patientiam”). Although his tomb’s location is unknown, a memorial tomb stands at St. Joseph Church in Ayutthaya in his honor.

"God often attached the repentance of many souls to the sacrifice, prayer, and extraordinary charity of missionaries."
Servant of God, Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte
