Death Comes for the Archbishop · Chapter
V explained
The elderly Archbishop Latour lies in his room, recalling his life and especially his deep bond with Father Joseph Vaillant.
What happens
The elderly Archbishop Latour lies in his room, recalling his life and especially his deep bond with Father Joseph Vaillant. He vividly remembers their secret departure from Riom as young priests to join the missions in America, Vaillant's anguished hesitation, and Latour's decisive encouragement. The chapter also recounts Vaillant's later achievements and hardships in Colorado, his death, and the remarkable devotion he inspired, exemplified by Father Revardy's dying journey to attend his funeral.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Loyalty
The deep, lifelong bond between Latour and Vaillant is central, from their secret departure to Latour's cherished memories and Vaillant's enduring influence.
Mission and Sacrifice
Both priests sacrifice family ties and personal comfort for their missionary calling; Vaillant's arduous life and Revardy's dying journey exemplify this theme.
Mortality and Legacy
Latour's contemplation of his own mortality and Vaillant's death, along with the legacy of devotion Vaillant inspired, are key elements.
Characters to notice
- Bishop Jean Marie Latour
The elderly Archbishop, recalling his past and his friendship with Vaillant.
- Father Joseph Vaillant
Latour's closest friend and fellow missionary; his early anguish and later life as Bishop of Colorado are remembered.
- Father Revardy
Vaillant's curate and Vicar, who traveled from France to attend Vaillant's funeral despite his own fatal illness.
- Bernard Ducrot
Mentioned as someone Latour can see clearly, but not central to the chapter.
Key passages
“He ran to the roadside and waved to the driver; the coach stopped. In a moment they were off, and before long Joseph had fallen asleep in his seat from sheer exhaustion.”
Latour flagged down the coach, and they departed quickly; Joseph soon fell asleep from exhaustion.
Latour's decisive action enables their escape from Riom.
“But he always said that if Jean Latour had not supported him in that hour of torment, he would have been a parish priest in the Puy-de-Dôme for the rest of his life.”
Vaillant often stated that without Latour's support during his crisis, he would have remained a parish priest in France forever.
Highlights Latour's crucial role in Vaillant's missionary path.
“The shrivelled little old man in the coffin, scarcely larger than a monkey—that had nothing to do with Father Vaillant.”
The small, withered body in the coffin did not seem to be the real Father Vaillant to Latour.
Latour cannot reconcile Vaillant's youthful spirit with his aged corpse.
“He arrived there when the services were nearly half over, and no one ever forgot the sight of this dying man, supported by the cabdriver and two priests, making his way through the crowd and dropping upon his knees beside the bier.”
Father Revardy arrived midway through the funeral, supported by others, and knelt by the coffin—a sight no one forgot.
Illustrates the extraordinary devotion Vaillant inspired.