St. Louis (Louis IX of France) 1214-1270 is shown here with the scepter of his power and Christ's crown of thorns.

Louis was happy to receive the Crown of Thorns from Baldwin II, Emperor of Constantinople. He sent two Dominican Friars to bring it to France. He and his whole court met them at beyond Sens. He built a Sainte Chapelle to contain the crown and other relics. Now it stands empty because the French revolutionaries emptied the church of its treasures.

Please Click thumbnail to see images of Life of St. Louis located at the National Library of France.

St. Louis was born in Possy on April 25, 1214, the son of the future Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile. His mother often said to her son, "I love you my dear son, as much as a mother can love a child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should ever commit a mortal sin."

His father, Louis VIII, died when he was 12 and Queen Blanche became regent for her son. To forestall claims to power, he was crowned king at Rheims in 1226. Louis married Margaret, oldest daughter of the Count of Provence, in May 1234; they were blessed with 11 children.

King Louis was not only an able administrator but also had a passion for justice. He established the popular court by hearing cases himself either in the palace or under a spreading oak tree at Vincennes. One day a Flemish count hanged three children for hunting rabbits in his woods. Louis had him imprisoned and tried by the ordinary judges who condemned him to death. He spared his life but deprived him of the greater part of his estates. He forbade dueling to settle disputes and replaced it by arbitration or juridical trial. King Louis forbade Feudal Lords to make war on one another and insisted that treaties be kept. During his first crusade to Egypt he ordered that all acts of violence committed by his soldiers should be punished and restitution made. He forbade the killing of infidel prisoners and provided for Christian instruction to those who wished to become Christians. However, the crusade was a disaster and he was taken prisoner.

Gifted as he was by God with a deep awareness of justice, we may apply to King Louis the words of Ps. 72:1-2

"O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to the son of kings;
That he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment ...."

King Louis was truly a man aware of the role of God in his life. When he became acting King his first act was to build the famous monastery of Royamont. He participated to two Masses daily and when traveling he was surrounded with priests chanting the hours. Even when in prison he recited the Divine Office every day and had the Mass prayers read to him. He issued an edict that those guilty of blasphemy should be branded. Those who knew him said that they never heard him swear or speak ill of anyone.

He also promoted the foundation of the famous college of theology known as the Sorbonne. Louis also founded in Parish the hospital of Qunze-vingt which had 300 beds. The King also made provision for the poor-by feeding them, some in the palace and others nearby. In Lent and Advent, he often served them in person.

St. Louis died during his Second Crusade in a fort constructed on the site of ancient Cartage. He became ill with dysentery or typhus and knowing that he was dying, King Louis wrote a letter to his oldest son, Philip III of France giving him instructions on how to live and govern in accordance with God's will. Shortly after, he received Extreme Unction and had himself laid on a bed of ashes, symbolic of penitence. At 3p.m., on August 27, 1270 he spoke his last words, "Into thy hands I commend my soul" then came the end.

Book: <Buttler's Lives of the Saints> Webpages: <St. Louis of France>and <The Crusades of St Louis>

St. Francis of Assisi