Saint Louis
Saint Louis King of France lived from 1214 to 1270. He became King of France at the age of 12. Early on he crushed the Albigensian heretics. (Lives of the Saints, 1878)
His mother Blanche of Castille rose him strictly, proclaiming she rather he were dead than to claim one mortal sin.
King Louis married Margaret of Provence, the elder sister of Eleanor, wife of Henry III. Louis and Margaret had 11 children. (Brockhampton, 1996)
He daily recited the Divine Office and heard two Masses a day. (Lives of the Saints, 1878) He also fasted and wore sackcloth near his skin. He washed beggars feet and ministered to lepers. He founded many religious houses and a hospital for the blind poor. With his friend Robert de Sorbon they developed the theological college that became the Sorbonne. In gratitude for his charity to the Christians in Palestine he was presented with the crown of thorns that Jesus wore at his crucifixion. To enshrine this Louis pulled down his own chapel of Saint Nicholas and built Saint Chapelle in its place. The main work on Notre Dame was completed during his reign. (Brockhampton, 1996)
He required blasphemers to be branded on their lips, saying “I would willingly have my own lips branded to root out blasphemy from my kingdom.” He was chosen to arbitrate in all the great feuds of his age, between the Pope and the Emperor, and between Henry III and the English barons. (Lives of the Saints, 1878)
In 1243 he had a serious illness and nearly died. As soon as he could speak, he called for a crusaders cross and put it on, much to the dismay of his mother and the court. He led a crusade in 1248 to the Holy Land to recapture Jerusalem. When his men died of illness he would carry their putrid corpses himself. After a heavy defeat at Mansurah he was taken prisoner. Following his release he withdrew his troops to Alka and from there to France. (Brockhampton, 1996)
During the Second Crusade many years later in 1270, he is among those that landed in Tunis and were victorious, though was struck by a malignant fever that he died from. (Lives of the Saints, 1878)
His old servant summed up the character of the saintly king: “He several times imperilled his life for the love he had for his people, when he could have done otherwise as he wished. Hud emblems are a crown and sceptre, the regalia of royalty. His feast day is August 25. (Brockhampton, 1996)
The Cathedral Basilica in New Orleans is named in honor of Saint Louis King of France. (Kremer, 2025) Photo from New Orleans, Louisiana, 2024.
Photo from New Orleans, Louisiana, 2024.