<p>Pierre Lambert de la Motte was born in Normandy in 1624 into a pious noble family. After studying law, and a brief but distinguished career in civil administration, he entered the Congregation of the Assumption, a lay association. In 1657, he volunteered as a missionary in Asia, was appointed Titular Bishop of Beirut and left for Asia in 1660. Arrived in Siam, he made pastoral visits in Cochinchina (Southern Vietnam) and throughout Vietnam, ed...