Death Comes for the Archbishop · Chapter
The Month of Mary explained
In May 1858, Father Vaillant lies ill in the Bishop's garden after a grueling journey to negotiate diocesan boundaries with Mexican bishops.
What happens
In May 1858, Father Vaillant lies ill in the Bishop's garden after a grueling journey to negotiate diocesan boundaries with Mexican bishops. As Bishop Latour tends his orchard, Vaillant reflects on his devotion to the Virgin Mary, his past sacrifices, and his desire to minister to forgotten Catholics in Arizona. The chapter contrasts the peaceful garden with the vast, harsh missionary landscape.
Themes in this chapter
Faith and Doubt
Father Vaillant's unwavering devotion to Mary and his joy in the month of May contrast with the practical burdens of missionary work.
Mission and Sacrifice
Vaillant's willingness to leave his family and endure illness to serve forgotten Catholics exemplifies the missionary spirit.
Landscape and Place
The garden sanctuary and the tamarisk tree symbolize the blending of European and desert landscapes in the Southwest.
Friendship and Loyalty
Latour's journey to rescue Vaillant and their shared history highlight their deep bond.
Characters to notice
- Father Joseph Vaillant
Recovering from malarial fever; reflects on his May devotions and his longing to serve lost Catholics in Arizona.
- Bishop Jean Marie Latour
Gardening and caring for Vaillant; recalls their shared history and plans for the summer.
- Jacinto
Rode with Bishop Latour to rescue Father Vaillant from the Arizona desert.
- Mother Philomène
Father Vaillant's sister; remembered for making artificial flowers for his May altar.
- Tranquilino
The Bishop's gardener; trained by Latour, he pipes water into the garden pond.
- Fructosa
Mexican housekeeper instructed in cookery by Father Vaillant.
Key passages
“The air and the earth interpenetrated in the warm gusts of spring; the soil was full of sunlight, and the sunlight full of red dust.”
Spring winds mingled earth and sky, with sun-warmed soil and dusty light blending together.
Describes the sensory richness of the garden in May.
“He had been so neglected, left to fight for life in such hard, sunbaked, burro-trodden ground, that their trunks had the hardness of cypress.”
The old tamarisks had survived harsh conditions, their trunks becoming as tough as cypress wood.
Reflects on the resilience of the tamarisk trees.
“They are like seeds, full of germination but with no moisture. A mere contact is enough to make them a living part of the Church.”
The isolated Catholics are spiritually ready but lack guidance; even brief contact can revive their faith.
Vaillant's view of the neglected faithful in Arizona.