St. Louis IX, King of France: Feast Day, Life and Prayer

St. Louis IX (1214–1270), king of France for forty-four years, is the model of a Christian ruler: a just judge, a lover of the poor who fed beggars at his own table, a devoted husband and father of eleven children, and a man of deep prayer who built the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris to house the Crown of Thorns. He led two crusades and died of illness near Tunis in 1270. Canonized in 1297, he is a patron of France, of the Secular Franciscans and of the city of St. Louis, Missouri, which bears his name. His feast day is August 25. Below are his story, the advice he left his son, and prayers to St. Louis for leaders, fathers and the poor.

A short prayer to St. Louis, written for this page:

St. Louis, you wore a crown but served the poor and loved justice.
Pray for all who hold power, for fathers and for families,
and help me to choose God above everything and to serve Him in the least of my brothers and sisters. Amen.

Who was St. Louis IX?

Louis was born at Poissy, near Paris, on April 25, 1214, and became king at twelve when his father, Louis VIII, died. His mother, Blanche of Castile, ruled for him until he came of age and raised him in a strong faith; she used to tell him that she would rather see him dead than see him commit a mortal sin. He married Margaret of Provence in 1234, and they had eleven children.

As king, Louis reformed the royal courts, forbade private wars and judicial duels, punished corrupt officials, and often heard the complaints of ordinary people himself, sitting under an oak tree at Vincennes. He attended Mass every day, prayed the Divine Office, fed the poor at his table and served them with his own hands, and founded hospitals, including the Quinze-Vingts for the blind of Paris. He bought the Crown of Thorns from the Latin emperor of Constantinople and built the Sainte-Chapelle, a jewel of Gothic stained glass, to house it.

In 1248 he led the Seventh Crusade to Egypt, where he was captured and ransomed. In 1270 he set out again, but died of dysentery in his camp near Tunis on August 25, 1270, reportedly saying, “I will enter into thy house; I will worship towards thy holy temple.” Pope Boniface VIII canonized him in 1297.

Advice to his son

Before his death Louis wrote instructions for his son and heir, Philip. He urged him to love God with all his heart and to suffer anything rather than commit a mortal sin; to go to confession often; to be kind and generous to the poor and to stand on the side of the poor in any dispute until the truth was known; to keep good company; to avoid war against Christians; and to do justice to everyone. These instructions became a classic of Christian education.

The Book of Proverbs describes the king he tried to be (Proverbs 29:14, Douay-Rheims):

The king that judgeth the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for ever.

What is St. Louis the patron saint of?

France, among its secondary patrons. See patron saint of France.
The Secular Franciscans (Third Order of St. Francis)
The city of St. Louis, Missouri, and many places named for him
Kings, rulers and fathers of families

Prayers to St. Louis

Written for this page.

For leaders

St. Louis, you governed with justice and mercy.
Pray for presidents, judges and all who hold power, that they may serve the common good and protect the weak. Amen.

For fathers

St. Louis, devoted husband and father, pray for fathers today.
Help them to lead their families by example in faith, love and prayer. Amen.

Feast day

The optional memorial of St. Louis of France is August 25, the day of his death. It shares the date with St. Joseph Calasanz.

Frequently asked questions

Why is St. Louis IX a saint?

Because of his personal holiness, his justice as king, his care for the poor and his deep life of prayer.

Is the city of St. Louis named after St. Louis IX?

Yes. French traders named it in 1764 in honor of Louis IX, patron of their king, Louis XV.

St. Louis IX, King of France: The Holy King, Sainte-Chapelle, Feast Day (August 25) and Prayer