bernières was born in caen, normandy, the son of pierre de bernières, baron of acqueville, and of madeleine le breton. he was destined by his parents for service in the church and received the tonsure at the age of nine, when he was entrusted into the care of his uncle, jean de bernières de louvigny, who then raised him in a religious community which he had founded in 1644 in the same city, though he was a layman. his work was a part of the reform movement of the catholic church sparked by the council of trent, and the hermitage was a major influence in that movement, in association with the compagnie du saint-sacrement. a young priest, françois de laval spent several years in retreat at the community, coming to know the young henri during that time.