St. Louis, King of France (25 August): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On August 25, Butler’s Lives of the Saints commemorates St. Louis IX, King of France, one of history’s greatest examples of Catholic kingship. Raised by the formidable Queen Blanche of Castile, Louis learned from childhood that mortal sin was worse than death. He carried that conviction into every aspect of his reign—government, justice, marriage, prayer, war, charity, and care for the poor. St. Louis spent hours in prayer, frequently confessed, practiced mortification, served the poor with his own hands, and built religious houses and hospitals. He received the Crown of Thorns and other relics of the Passion and constructed the magnificent Sainte-Chapelle in Paris to house them. St. Louis IX, King of France, pray for us! 00:00 St. Louis IX, King of France 00:18 A Great King, Hero & Saint 01:17 Birth and Baptism of St. Louis 02:06 Queen Blanche of Castile 03:01 His Mother Forms Him in the Faith 03:43 “Rather See You Dead Than Commit Mortal Sin” 04:22 Louis Becomes King at Age 12 04:47 His Coronation as a Sacred Duty 05:26 Rebellions During His Minority 07:57 Mercy Toward His Enemies 08:19 St. Louis & the Church 09:30 A King Devoted to Prayer 09:57 Prayer Before Entertainment 10:06 Mortification at the Royal Table 11:50 Purity and Morality at His Court 12:14 Humility & Service to the Poor 13:34 Marriage to Queen Margaret 15:08 His Daily Spiritual Life 15:30 Monasteries, Hospitals & Foundations 16:07 The Crown of Thorns Comes to France 16:39 St. Louis Carries the Relic Barefoot 17:20 Relic of the True Cross 17:27 Building Sainte-Chapelle 18:04 Nights Spent in Prayer 18:50 Piety Without Neglecting Government 19:22 St. Louis the Just King 20:04 Laws Against Blasphemy 20:46 Protecting the Weak From Powerful Lords 21:32 Ending Private Wars 22:27 His Reputation for Absolute Integrity 23:21 Peace Without Weakness 24:14 Restitution During War 25:00 Mercy Toward Prisoners 25:30 Peace With England 27:07 Threat of Assassination 28:35 “Conquerors or Martyrs” 29:41 The Call to Crusade 30:19 St. Louis Nearly Dies 30:52 He Takes the Cross 32:02 Restitution Before Leaving France 34:09 St. Louis Seeks Peace Between Pope & Emperor 35:11 Departure on Crusade 37:05 War With the Sultan of Egypt 38:28 Landing at Damietta 38:35 “Our Lives Belong to God” 39:57 Victory at Damietta 40:05 Entering the City Barefoot 41:16 Maintaining Justice Among His Army 43:50 Greek Fire & Prayer Under Attack 45:08 Disaster at Mansurah 46:21 St. Louis’ Heroism in Battle 47:32 Disease Devastates the Army 48:17 The Christians Surrender 48:56 St. Louis Taken Prisoner 49:14 Praying the Breviary in Captivity 49:45 Threatened With Torture 50:09 Negotiating the Ransom 52:02 Refusing to Make an Unbeliever a Christian Knight 53:05 Refusing a Blasphemous Oath 54:08 Released From Captivity 55:04 St. Louis Goes to the Holy Land 57:15 The King Becomes a Missionary 57:40 His Life Converts Souls 58:45 His Letter From Palestine 59:34 Glorying in His Chains for Christ 01:01:27 Death of Queen Blanche 01:01:58 St. Louis Accepts His Mother’s Death 01:03:28 Return to France 01:05:13 St. Louis Takes the Cross Again 01:05:29 Founding and Supporting the Sorbonne 01:06:09 Hospitals and Care for the Poor 01:08:19 St. Louis’ Final Advice to His Son 01:09:20 Justice, Peace & Christian Government 01:09:51 Fight Blasphemy, Drunkenness & Impurity 01:10:16 His Fatherly Blessing 01:10:46 Preparing for Eternity 01:11:36 Extreme Unction & Viaticum 01:12:20 His Final Psalm 01:12:37 “Into Thy Hands I Commend My Soul” 01:12:44 Death of St. Louis IX 01:15:48 His Relics Return to France 01:16:31 Canonization & Miracles 01:16:54 His Greatest Glory Was in Suffering 01:17:27 Joy in Chains Rather Than Worldly Conquest 01:17:35 Conformity to God’s Holy Will 01:18:22 Divine Providence & Peace of Soul https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/august/st-louis-king-of-france/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StLouisIX #SaintLouis #CatholicSaints #CatholicFrance #CatholicKing #CatholicHistory #Crusades #SainteChapelle #CrownOfThorns