Thoughts on King Louis IX of France

On August 25th, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Louis IX of France. My appreciation of this feast has grown in the recent past because it unites two cities significant in my life.  King Louis IX, patron of St. Louis – patron of the city where I was born and currently live – is also the patron of New Orleans, where I served in a Jesuit parish and high school from 2012 through 2019.

St. Louis and New Orleans share many things.  Both were French foundations and both historically have been regarded as “very Catholic.”  Each city in the 19th century grew significantly because of Irish, German and Italian immigrants. Of course, the cities also share a river.  And, believe or not, the cities also share Mardi Gras. (St. Louis claims to have the largest Mardi Gras celebration outside of Louisiana, although that “fact” from the St. Louis Office of Tourism doesn’t particularly impress the good folks in New Orleans where Mardi Gras parades and galas go on for weeks and weeks!)

Sadly, not everything about our city’s history or current reality leaves us proud.  In both cities, murder rates are high and at times each can feel “lawless.” Both cities struggle with contemporary realities of social and economic division.  That is not new to us.  In fact, it is so “common” that in the face of it we can fall victim to either complacency or discouragement.  Neither is a reaction worthy of our Christian vocation.

St. Louis was born over 800 years ago; clearly, his times are not our own.  Had history not left us an accurate record of his reign, we might be tempted to regard his story as religious fiction.  But we know, as a fact, that he was a king who put God first, who prayed daily, who often personally waited table for his poor guests, and who waged war only to build peace.  While some folks today using contemporary standards will find reason to disparage St. Louis because he led a Crusade, he was committed to acting justly.  In his humility, he knew he did not know all the answers, but he was not satisfied to do nothing.

Perhaps in St. Louis we have a worthy patron to guide our continuing efforts to create

societies which reflect more fully God’s desires for his people.  Seeking his intercession, let us do our own part by prayer and action to assure that we have civic leaders whose decisions reflect a true commitment to peace, to justice, to the common good, and to a respect for all human life.



Fr. Frank Reale SJ