St Louis IX, King of France – Aug 25 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Aug 25, 2023, on the life of King St. Louis IX, who, guided by his upbringing by his mother Blanche of Castile, led a life of deep faith, undertook the Seventh and Eighth Crusades, and remained a beacon of Christian virtue and leadership throughout his reign.

St Louis, a patron saint of the Franciscan Third Order, was born on April 25th, 1214. His mother, Blanche of Castile, instilled in him a deep love for God and a hatred for sin. She once told him, "I would infinitely rather see you fall dead than commit a mortal sin." Guided by this principle, Louis never committed a mortal sin, as testified by his confessor. He frequently confessed to maintain a pure soul.

Louis always attributed his successes to God and believed trials were either purifications or consequences of sins. He was prouder of his Christian faith than his kingship. His mother ensured he had wise teachers, including Blessed Pacificus and Blessed Mansueto Castiglione Argentino. Louis ascended the throne at 12, after his father's death in 1226. Despite challenges, he remained the only canonized king of France.

When marrying, Louis prioritized virtue and chose Margaret of Provence. They had eleven children. His deep religiosity never deterred him from his kingly duties. Once, when informed of a miraculous appearance of the child Jesus during Mass, he expressed his faith without needing to see it. Louis had close ties with Franciscans and Dominicans, including St. Thomas and St. Bonaventure. He personally served the poor and maintained a pious court.

In 1244, after a Christian defeat at Gaza and his own illness, Louis vowed to embark on the Seventh Crusade upon recovery. This crusade united a divided France. He recaptured Damietta in Egypt in June 1249 but faced challenges moving inland. After failed negotiations and his capture, he was eventually released in May 1250. He then fortified Christian towns in the Holy Land. While visiting Nazareth, he humbled himself in reverence.

In 1254, he returned to France, focusing on national affairs. In 1267, he embarked on the Eighth Crusade, aiming to liberate Jerusalem. However, an epidemic in Tunisia halted their progress. Louis, seeing Christ in the sick took care of them, cf Matthew 25:40 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25?40 - "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." He contracted the disease and, before dying on August 25th, 1270, recited from the Psalms, reminiscent of Psalm 138:2 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/138?2 - "I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name."

00:00 - Introduction
00:07 - Overview of St. Louis' Virtues
01:31 - Became King at Age 12
02:26 - Chose Wife Based on Virtue
03:14 - Patron of Franciscans and Dominicans
03:56 - Seventh Crusade and Imprisonment
06:22 - Work in the Holy Land
07:40 - Return to France
07:55 - Eighth Crusade and Death
09:04 - Dying Words from Psalms

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Louis IX - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1011
Readings: Friday 20th Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082523.cfm
1st: rut 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22
Resp: psa 146:5-10
Gsp: mat 22:34-40

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=703&r=1479

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