Relations
Les Relations, or Relations, are a series of documents narrating the missionary journey and work of Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte from 1660-1670.
Les Relations of Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte narrate his departure from France in 1660 up to the events leading up to the establishment of the Lovers of the Holy Cross sisters in Vietnam. The narratives document his perilous journey from Paris across the Middle East and Southeast Asia to Siam (present-day Thailand) and Tonkin. A significant portion of the texts focuses on the ecclesiastical conflicts between French missionaries and the Jesuits regarding jurisdictional authority and the Jesuits' involvement in trade. In Tonkin (present-day North Vietnam), the sources describe the persecution of Christians under royal edicts and the subsequent 1670 Synod of Pho-Hien, which established a native hierarchy in Vietnam. Furthermore, the documents outline the founding of the Lovers of the Cross sisters, the first female religious institute. Although these records serve as both a travel log and a foundational blueprint for the Paris Foreign Missions Society in Asia, they also include several reflections on the spiritual life of missionaries.
Les Relations
Relation 1: Table of Contents
1660-1662
Amep, vol. 121, p. 605-628
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This account details the initial journey of Bishop Lambert de la Motte and his companions from Paris to Basra via Syria and Mesopotamia. The missionaries navigated complex customs posts, managed local currencies, and visited various Christian and non-Christian communities. A significant portion of the text provides a foundational reflection on the spiritual qualities required for missionaries, emphasizing a decade of prayer and complete abandonment to God. It also offers practical advice for future travelors regarding routes, clothing, and interpreters.
Relation 2: Table of Contents
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1662-1663
Amep, vol. 121, p. 630-654
Upon arriving in the royal city of Siam, present day Thailand, the missionaries established a presence and began evangelizing local Cochinchinese residents. This report highlights their decision to remain in solitude due to the perceived laxity and corruption of certain priests who were involved in commerce. They also gathered intelligence on overland routes to China through the kingdom of Pegu. The account concludes with a failed seavoyage to China, which ended in a shipwreck and a providential return to Siam.
Relation 3: Table of Contents
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1663-1665
Amep, vol. 121, p. 657-685
This period marks the arrival of Bishop Pallu and additional missionaries to Siam which led to a formal synod to establish a code of conduct. The text dives deeply into the theology of the apostolic life, prescribing rigorous practices such as perpetual fasting and three hours of daily prayer. The missionaries successfully petitioned to the King of Siam for a piece of land to build a church and a college to teach European sciences. The relation concludes with Bishop Pallu's return to Europe to report on the state of the mission and to petition for more missionaries.
Relation 4: Table of Contents
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1665-1666
Amep, vol. 121, p. 686-714
This account focuses on the difficult mission to Cochinchina, where Fr. Chevreuil faced intense opposition from other priests. it describes a bloody persecution that led to the apostosay of thousands of Christians, though later, many showed deep contrition. It also outlines the development of the seminary in Siam and the struggle to establish apostolic authority. The relation ends with Fr. Deydier departing for Tonkin disguised as a sailor to assist the neglected faithful there.
Relation 5: Table of Contents
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1666-1667
Amep, vol. 121, p. 715-743
The details of this report inlcude a sharp jurisdictional conflict in Siam, where the Portuguese religious published a defamatory accusation against the French missionaries. Despite the "crosses", the mission established itself as the Camp of Saint Joseph. In addition, the text provides a rigorous examination of the inner life which requires the missionary to endure persecution with joy.
Relation 6: Table of Contents
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1668-1669
Amep, vol. 121, p. 744-771
The fruitfulness of the crosses encountered by missionaries is seen in the: interest expressed by the King of Siam in the mysteries of the Catholic faith, the conversion of a mandarin, the partial healing of the king's paralyzed brother, the vision of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, and the explosive growth of the missions in Tonkin within a year.
Relation 7: Table of Contents
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1669-1670
Amep, vol. 677, p. 187-218
This final relation documents Bishop Lambert's journey to Tonkin, the historic synod in 1670 which established the hierarchy of the Church in Vietnam, the ordination of seven local priests, and the establishment of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters.