Louis Ix Of France (1215-1270)

Louis IX of France (1215-1270)

St. Louis led an exemplary life, bearing constantly in mind his mother’s words: "I would rather see you dead at my feet than guilty of a mortal sin." His biographers have told us of the long hours he spent in prayer, fasting, and penance, without the knowledge of his subjects. The French king was a great lover of justice. Http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09368a.htm

He was renowned for his charity. The peace and blessings of the realm come to us through the poor he would say. Beggars were fed from his table, he ate their leavings, washed their feet, ministered to the wants of the lepers, and daily fed over one hundred poor. He founded many hospitals and houses: the House of the Felles-Dieu for reformed prostitutes; the Quinze-Vingt for 300 blind men (1254), hospitals at Pontoise, Vernon, Compiégne.

King St. Louis IX is our patron saint. The father of eleven children, born during thirty-six years of marriage, the "Baptized of Poissy" (as he was known), progressively became the Good King Saint Louis. His royal duties contributed to his sanctification, but he, himself, only wanted to follow the example of the King of Heaven: poor, just, and the servant of all. www.stlouisparish.org

Signature: Louis De Poissy (city where he was born and baptized.)

Unconfirmed Story: Louis said once to a friend, "In Poissey, I received the greatest honour of my life." The friend replied, "You are mistaken, your majesty. You mean Rheims." "I am not mistaken," said Louis, "It is true I was consecrated king on earth at Rheims, but I was made a Christian at Poessy and there acquired my right to the throne of heaven."

If this is a true story there are two simple steps that were taken that made a king think more of being a Christian than being a king: 1) A mother who challenged him to be upright, 2) A personal desire to please God first in his life.