Today is the feast of St Louis. He reigned as King Louis IX of France from his accession to the throne at the age to twelve in 1226 until his death in 1270. He was canonised in 1297.
St Louis
Image: Wikipedia
As this year is the eight hundredth anniversary of his accession it seems appropriate to mark his feast day.
Over the years I have written several times about St Louis and to avoid repetition I will give the link to my article from three years ago. This has links to other articles about the saint-king from here on the blog and can be accessed at St Louis
There is a splendid collection of depictions and images of StLouis from across the centuries on the blog Ad Imaginem Dei at Saint Louis of France – Saint, King and Patron of the Arts
Statue of St Louis dated to 1275-1325 from the Grand Reliquary of the Sainte Chapelle. It is suggested this may be the best near contemporary likeness
Image: Ad Imaginem Dei
The latest, well illustrated and detailed biography of him on Wikipedia is at Louis IX of France
One thing that is not mentioned in that, but which I gleaned from another website, and did not know, or had forgotten, is that St Louis was not the first born to his parents, but their fourth son. Medieval infant mortality was no respecter of royal blood. He is the ancestor not only of every reigning European monarch but of virtually all the other non-reigning dynasties on the continent.
May St Louis pray for France, his descendants
and for us all
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