Feast of St Louis IX, Crusader King

Today is the Feast of St Louis IX, King of France and valiant Crusader for the Faith. He was also the epitome of the just, traditional Catholic Monarch of the Mediaeval period. He is one of my favourite Saints. I have become convinced that for the Revolution to be defeated worldwide, it must first be defeated in its homeland of France. I invoke St Louis for the defeat of the Satanic Revolution and the Restoration of his descendant, Monseigneur Louis, le duc d'Anjou as Louis XX, Most Christian King of France and Navarre.

Taking seriously his Office as Fount of Justice, Louis developed fame by making himself available to hear cases at Vincennes seating himself beneath an oak tree in the park. He would invite anyone with a case to settle to come forward and be heard. Should a case involve a dispute between a rich and poor person, Louis would give special attention to the concerns of the poor person

Whilst he was yet a boy, his mother, Queen Blanche, told him,

I love you, my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should ever commit a mortal sin.

Blanche raised two Canonised Saints, Louis and St Isabelle (Feast Day, 26 February), his younger sister.

A short hagiography from Catholic Online

Louis IX was born in Poissy, France in 1214 to Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile. He succeeded to the throne at the age of twelve under the regency of his mother. On his twenty-first birthday he assumed full kingship. He was well known for protecting the French clergy from secular leaders and for strictly enforcing laws against blasphemy. Louis generally remained neutral in international disputes. However, because of a dispute between the Count of Le Marche and the Count of Poitiers, in which Henry III supported the Count of Le Marche, he was forced to go to war with England. In 1242 Louis defeated Henry III at Tailebourg. After the war, he made restitution to the innocent people whose property had been destroyed. He established the Sorbonne (1252) and the monasteries of Rayaumont, Vavert, and Maubuisson. Louis led two crusades, the Sixth and the Seventh Crusades. He was captured and imprisoned during the Sixth (1244-1249). At the onset of the Seventh Crusade in 1270, Louis died of dysentery. Boniface VIII canonized him in 1297.

Here is the 'Legend' or Third Reading from his Matins for today,

Louis IX, King of France, was brought up under the most holy care of his mother Blanche. To regain possession of Jerusalem, he crossed the sea with a great army and put the Saracens to flight in the first battle. But, when a great many of his soldiers had perished in the plague, he was defeated and taken captive. Upon conclusion of a treaty, he was set free. He redeemed many Christians in the East from enslavement to the barbarians, and also converted many infidels to the faith of Christ. Returning to France, he built many monasteries and hospitals for the poor. He helped the needy by his beneficence, and he often visited the sick and served them himself. He wore plain clothing and constantly afflicted his body by wearing a hair shirt and by fasting. When he had crossed the sea again to make war against the Saracens and had pitched camp within sight of them, he died of the plague, saying this prayer: I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name.

And the Collect of his Feast,

O God, Who didst give unto thy blessed Confessor Louis a glorious change from an earthly kingdom unto an heavenly, grant unto us, we beseech thee, for his sake and by his prayers, one day to enter like him into the Presence of the King of kings, even thy Son Jesus Christ.
Who with thee liveth and reigneth, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.R. Amen

 I suggest reading Mrs Bogna's entry on In Lumine Fidei for today, as well, especially the excerpt on St Louis' life from Dom Prosper Guéranger.