Alain de Solminihac was born on 25 November 1593 in the Chateau de Belet
Kingdom of France to Jean and Margaret de Solminihac. He wanted to become a member of the Knights of Malta in order to serve
God but felt a strong call to the
priesthood and to the religious life so joined the
Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Chancelade in 1613 as a postulant. His period of
novitiate commenced in 1615 and concluded on 28 July 1618. The completion of his theological studies soon saw him
ordained to the priesthood on 22 September 1618. He was made the superior of his
convent in 1623.
Pope Urban VIII appointed him as the
Bishop of Cahors on 22 September 1636 (
King Louis XIII approved this after meeting him) and he received his
episcopal consecration on 27 September 1637 in the French capital of
Paris. The bishop visited each of his 800 parishes at least nine times during the course of his episcopate and he held an episcopal consecration on one occasion. He also prompted adoration to the
Eucharist and restored a range of local devotions. He followed the lead of
Charles Borromeo in enforcing the decrees of the
Council of Trent in his diocese. He met
Francis de Sales for the first time during
Lent in 1619 and the two had more meetings following this; he also became a friend of
Vincent de Paul. He died on 31 December 1659. ==Beatification==