Monday, August 25, 2025

(312) St. Louis IX King of France (1214-1270): Faithful to God; Faithful to the People of France; a Leader of Medieval Christendom

 AMDG


                          A painting of King St. Louix IX By Emile Signol

      Many kings in history used the throne as a means of personal power, enrichment, glory, and pleasure.  St. Louis IX saw the throne as an opportunity to serve not himself, but to serve God and His people.  He was not an ordinary king, but a holy king and a saint.  With the help of God he would not let power corrupt him as it often does.  Let’s examine the saintly life of St. Louis IX. 

     His mother had a tremendous influence upon him since childhood.  She is known to have said: ” I love you, my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should ever commit a mortal sin”.   Furthermore, she prepared her son for the mission of being king by having him educated in Latin, the international language of the time, public speaking, writing, military arts, and government.

       Since his father died in 1226 when he was only 12 years old, his mother ruled as regent until the young Louis became of age in 1234.  That same year Louis married  Marguerite of Provence (1221–1295), the daughter of a count.  Being very devout, she was an excellent complement to the King as wife, mother of their children, and queen.  It was an exemplary marriage that bore him 11 children. 

 

                             Ste-Chapelle Church in Paris

      King St. Louis IX was a leader of the uniform Christian culture of medieval western Europe, which we refer to as “Christendom”.   Thus Christendom College, a truly Christ centered Catholic college in Front Royal, Virginia adopted its name and took on the great mission……”To restore all things in Christ”. 

   During his 44 year reign, St. Louis IX exemplified the highest medieval ideals of kingship, gaining for his people an era of peace with neighboring countries and prosperity.  He had a passion for justice with mercy.  A very pious king, he protected the Church.  Although respectful of the pope, he staunchly resisted unreasonable papal demands and protected his clergy.  He believed in the responsibilities to use his reign for the common good, not for personal advantage.  He founded abbeys, convents, hospitals, and almshouses for the poor, even serving meals to the poor in his palace.    He built the famous gothic Ste-Chapelle Church with stunning stained glass windows in Paris to house the Crown of Thorns. It’s a must see for every visitor to Paris.

The seal of King St. Louis IX

       
Louis IX introduced legal reforms beyond his time, creating a royal mechanism that allowed petitioners to appeal judgments directly to the monarch, and established a code of ethical conduct for his officials as forbidding them to accept gifts.  He abolished trials by ordeal (physical tests), endeavored to terminate private wars, and incorporated the assumption of innocence into trials until proven guilty.  Louis IX's reign is often marked as an economic and political zenith for medieval France.  He held immense respect throughout Christendom.  His reputation of personal integrity as a fair, impartial, and judicious ruler led to his being solicited to mediate disputes beyond his own kingdom.  He reformed the administrative institutions of his own kingdom and had government abuses investigated.

         During the time of St. Louis, the kingdom of France was at its height in Europe, both politically and economically. He commanded the largest army and ruled the largest and wealthiest kingdom, the European center of arts and intellectual thought at the time. The foundations for the notable college of theology, later known as the Sorbonne and the University of Paris with such great minds as St. Thomas Aquinas in about the year 1257.

       King Louis IX enjoyed unparalleled prestige throughout Christendom and was respected even by his opponents as he was considered to be the 'Most Christian King' (rex Christianissimus).  This title adopted by the French kings was later confirmed by the Pope, while further papal concessions cemented France as the "eldest daughter of the Church"  A base relief of St. Louis IX adorns the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives.   

    The 13th Century was a difficult time for Christianity.  The Holy Land was desecrated and occupied by radical Islam.  Christendom had to respond and it did with the Crusades.  King St. Louis IX did not stay back in the comfort of his palace and send troops.  Honoring a vow he had made while praying for recovery during a serious illness, he went to the Holy Land with his army.  He led two crusades, engaged in combat and risked his life.  He was even captured and held for ransom.  He returned to battle and finally died during the Eighth Crusade on August 25 (feast day), 1270.

        Interesting is a letter that St. Louis IX wrote to his son:  "My dear son, in the first place I teach you that you must love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your strength; unless you do so you cannot be saved. You must guard yourself from everything that you know is displeasing to God, that is to say, from all mortal sin. You must be ready to undergo every kind of martyrdom rather than commit one mortal sin.

     If God sends you tribulation, you ought to endure it, giving thanks, realizing that it is for your good, and that, perhaps, you have deserved it. If however, the Lord confers some benefit on you, you must humbly thank Him, and be on your guard not to become the worse for it, either through vainglory or in any other way. You must not offend God with the very gifts he has given you.

       Assist at the Divine Office of the Church with joyful devotion; while you are present in church do not let your gaze wander, do not chat about trifles, but pray to the Lord attentively, either with your lips, or meditating in your heart.

     Be compassionate towards the poor, the destitute and the afflicted; and, as far as it lies in your power, help and console them.  Give thanks to God for all the gifts he has bestowed upon you, so that you will become worthy of still greater gifts. Towards your subjects, act with such justice that you may steer a middle course, swerving neither to the right nor to the left, but lean more to the side of the poor man than of the rich until such time as you are certain about the truth.  Do your utmost to ensure peace and justice for all your subjects but especially for clergy and religious.

      Devotedly obey our mother, the Roman Church, and revere the Supreme Pontiff as your spiritual father.  Endeavour to banish all sin, especially blasphemy and heresy, from your kingdom.

   Finally, my dear son, I impart to you every blessing that a loving father can bestow on his son; may the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and all the saints, guard you from all evil.  May the Lord grant you the grace to do His will so that He may be served and honored by you, and that, together, after this life we may come to see him, love him and praise him forever. Amen.”

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