St. Louis IX, king and Patron saint of Secular Franciscans

 

SAINT LOUIS was born in 1214 and became King of France when he was only twenty-two years old.  He married and became the father of eleven children who received from him careful instruction for a Christian life.  He excelled in penance and prayer and in his love for the poor.  While ruling his kingdom he had regard not only for peace among peoples and for the temporal good of his subjects, but also for their spiritual welfare.  He undertook the Crusades to recover the tomb of Christ and died near Carthage in 1270.