August 25 - Saint Louis
Today the Roman Catholic Church commemorates Saint Louis, as does the Anglican Communion.
Louis was born near Paris in 1214. His parents were Prince Louis the Lion and Princess Blanche, and his grandfather was the king of France. When he was nine, his grandfather died, and his father became king. However, his father's reign wasn't very long. He died three years later. Suddenly, little Louis was King Louis IX at age 12, though his mother acted as regent until he came of age, training him to be a good king and a good Christian. He took full responsibility for the kingdom at around age 21, though his mother remained a close adviser.
Louis was known for being devout. He built the famous Sainte-Chapelle (which, sadly, isn't a church anymore, though you can still visit it). He helped the poor and the sick. He was careful never to speak poorly of others. He forgave quickly. He was serious about penance. He outlawed usury. When he found himself with spare time because he was taken captive in Egypt, he used that time to recite the Divine Office. I don't think we'd know what to think about a ruler anything like this today. It would be so contrary to everything we see in people in power. He saw his position as king as a responsibility given to him by God, and he acted accordingly, using his faith as the main inspiration for his actions.
Louis married someone equally devout as him - Margaret of Provence, and they loved each other and enjoyed spending time together.
Louis was well-respected by his royal peers. He controlled the most powerful country at the time in Europe, and it was a country that was less feared militarily than respected culturally, putting him in a good position to serve as a wise figure to other royals.
Louis loved the arts and was known throughout Europe for supporting them. He also founded the Sorbonne and several monasteries.
In 1248, Louis went crusading for the first time, abandoning his kingdom for six years to go fight in Egypt and then fortifying Christian holdings in Palestine. He crusaded with his sons again in 1267 in Tunisia, where he died of dysentery. Crusades weren't exactly places of exceptional hygiene.
He is the patron saint of France, lacemakers, barbers, grooms, Secular Franciscans, and quite a few places.
Some depictions of Saint Louis:
- There's a carved portrait of him in the US House of Representatives as one of the great historical lawgivers. It was carved in 1950 by Jean de Marco. He is recognized there because of the Mise of Amiens.
- His statue on the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Paris
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_IX_of_France
Posted Aug 25, 2017, 11:38 AM UTC