August 19 St. Louis of Toulouse/San Luis Obispo-CA Mission

St. Louis of Toulouse/San Luis Obispo (1274-1297)

August 19

            Louis’s parents were royalty: Charles II of Naples & Sicily and Mary, daughter of the king of Hungary. Louis was related as a cousin to the King of France, Louis IX (Saint on August 25) on his father’s side. On his mother’s side, he was related to Elizabeth of Hungary (Saint on November 17)!

            As a young child Louis showed an attachment to prayer and especially to the corporal works of mercy. He used to take castle food from the royal table to feed the poor. When he was fourteen, Louis and two of his brothers were taken as hostages by the king of Aragon. At the Aragon court, Louis was taught by Franciscan friars and thus made tremendous progress both in his studies and in the spiritual life. Like St. Francis of Assisi he developed a special affinity for those suffering from leprosy.

            While he was still a hostage, Louis decided to become a priest. He left the court of the king of Aragon when he turned 20 and renounced his royal title in favor of his brother Robert. He was then ordained the next year. Very shortly after, he was appointed Bishop of Toulouse, but was also able to become a Franciscan friar. Franciscan spirit pervaded Louis. A favorite prayer or saying of Louis was: “Jesus Christ is all my riches; he alone is sufficient for me.” 

            As a bishop he wore the Franciscan habit and sometimes begged. Louis’s service as bishop to the diocese of Toulouse was productive and blessed. In no time he was considered a living saint. Louis set aside a large percentage of his episcopal income to feed the poor and maintain churches.  He died at age 23! Louis was canonized in 1317 by Pope John XXII, one of his former teachers.

From a contemporary biography: “All the faithful were edified by the fervor of his devout celebration of Mass, the efficacy of his deep humility, his tender compassion, his upright life, the harmonious congruity in all his actions, words and bearing. Who without wonderment could look upon a most charming young man, the son of a mighty king, outstanding for his generosity, raised to such dignity, renowned for his influence, preeminent for humility, living a life of such mortification, endowed with such wisdom, clothed in so poor a habit yet renowned for the charm of his discourse and a shining example of upright life?!”