Peter Joseph Lavialle

Lavialle was born in Mauriac, Cantal, and there studied theology under the Sulpician Fathers.[1] In 1842 he accepted an invitation from his relative, Bishop Guy Ignatius Chabrat, to join the Diocese of Louisville, Kentucky.[2] Following his arrival in the United States, Lavialle continued his studies at the diocesan seminary and was ordained to the priesthood on February 2, 1844.[3] He then served as a curate at the cathedral until 1849, when he became professor of theology at St. Thomas Seminary.[2] In 1856 he was named president of St. Mary's College.[2] He was appointed to succeed Antoine Blanc as Archbishop of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1860, but he refused the honor.[1]

On July 7, 1865, Lavialle was appointed Bishop of Louisville by Pope Pius IX.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 24 from Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, with Bishops Jacques-Maurice De Saint Palais and John McGill serving as co-consecrators.[3] During his short tenure, he conducted diocesan visitations, invited the Dominican Fathers and founded a convent for them, erected four churches in the episcopal see of Louisville alone.[1] He attended the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore in October 1866.[2]

Exhausted from his labors, Lavialle retired to St. Joseph's Infirmary and next to Nazareth, near Bardstown, where he later died at age 46.[1] He was buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Assumption.[2]