Louis IX of France came to the throne at the age of twelve and ruled with the advice of his mother until her death in 1252. He married Marquerite of Provence in 1234 and was blessed with ten children.

At his coronation as King of France, Louis promised to act as God’s servant, to act as the father of his people and be feudal lord of the King of Peace. Other kings had made the same promises, but Louis was different because he looked at his kingly duties in the light of faith.


In 1244, Louis took the Crusader’s vows and began four years of preparation in order to lead crusades in areas where the strength of Christians in the Holy Land was declining. One of Louis’ greatest ambitions was to bolster Christianity that had been established by the earlier Crusades.

Louis’ other great desire was for justice in civil government. He was responsible for passing a series of reform laws. He replaced battle with a form of examination of witnesses and encouraged the use of written records in court. Louis was devoted to his people. He instilled justice, started hospitals, and cared for the sick. Louis truly united France – Lords and townsfolk, peasants and priests by the mere force of his personality and holiness. Under his reign, France was at peace. Louis died while on a Crusade on August 25, 1270.

Louis is remembered for his piety,charity, austere habits and daily mass attendance. He visited the sick, fed the poor and fought for civil justice. Pope Boniface VIII canonized him in 1297.

His feast day, August 25th, is recognized every year by this parish with a great celebration and homecoming, known as St. Louis Day.