This is amazing! It's worthy of the late Middle Ages in France in honour of the Patron and namesake of their city. May God bless them!
From One Peter Five
By Anna Kalinowska
Louismas—it’s a feast unknown to many, but for Catholics of St. Louis, Missouri, it’s the crowning moment of every summer.
On August 25th, six hundred faithful solemnly processed to the bronze apotheosis of Louis IX which stands in the city’s largest park. The event marked the culmination of the fifth annual Festival of Saint Louis, a multi-day affair comprised of liturgies, intellectual gatherings, music, and parties.
While the festival draws visitors from all over the U.S. and beyond, it also sees local veteran devotees: those who during the riots of 2020 knelt and prayed daily at the foot of their saint’s effigy in defense of his patronage and his place in the public square. These faithful souls will readily acknowledge the beautiful irony that their devotion to their city’s patron owes some of its fervor to the BLM’s attacks in 2020; prior to that contentious summer, Saint Louis’s feast was kept by most with little ado. But when threatened by masked mobs who, unchecked by civil authorities, shouted calumnies, defaced the statue, and threatened to tear it down altogether, Catholics of St. Louis rose as one to defend their patron. They committed themselves to cultivating greater devotion to him. Thus, the Festival of Saint Louis was born.
The heart of the festival is prayer. Each year, Catholics make a Rosary novena over the days leading up to the feast. Gathering at the base of the statue, they prepare their hearts for the graces King Louis has at his disposal. This year, the full Divine Office of Saint Louis of France was sung at the Oratory of SS. Gregory and Augustine by the Cantores Sancti Ludovici. The wonderfully vivid medieval text comes from a manuscript held at the French National Library, ca. 1297.
First Vespers, with the royal tone Magnificat and candlelit Matins, with its beautiful lessons pertaining to the life of King Louis, are always favorites for lovers of the Divine Office. The Latin Liturgy Association sponsored beautiful worship aids to guide the faithful and a souvenir holy card as a keepsake.
Back by popular demand, a Music of the Crusades concert was held at the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales. The Cantores Sancti Ludovici partnered with the St. Francis de Sales music program to perform a repertoire differing from last year’s and yet holding strongly to the theme of the Crusades. From the loft of this magnificent church, the musicians chanted and played pieces which would have been heard by Saint Louis and other crusaders. In the nave below, the faithful listened and prayed.
 |
Mr. Miguel Gordo, from Spain, now living in St. Louis, brought his three-year-old son. He said he enjoyed the fact that the program was a product of the local community as part of the festivities of Saint Louis, and not as a visiting concert from a professional group without any stake in the city, the feast, or the music itself. “Maybe in America these concerts are more common, but in Spain it would be rare to find a concert such as this. I thought it was a great opportunity, plus it was close by, it was free, and there was a reception afterwards—all great signs for a father-son outing too.”
Another concert-goer, Mr. John Fogarty stated, “Being at the Music of the Crusades concert let me march alongside those warrior pilgrims and prod myself towards having the gumption to join crusades that are happening today.”
In addition to solemn liturgies and great music, the Festival of Saint Louis has become well-known for its intellectual focus, drawing scholars such as Dr. Gregory DiPippo, Mr. Marcel Pérès, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, and this year, Dr. Chad Pecknold. At this year’s Ludovicanum luncheon, Dr. Pecknold delivered a rousing keynote on the concept of Christian Kingship. Also very well-received were talks by Mr. Zachary Thomas on the tradition of confraternities, Mr. Stan Metheny on preparing the texts of the feast day from the National Library of France (BnF) manuscript, and Father Stephen Schumacher on continuing the crusade.
Attendee Miss Laura Jablonski stated that the talks reignited her purpose and mission in building the Kingdom of God here on earth. “I loved everything about Ludovicanum!” Miss Jablonski shared. “The atmosphere buzzed with convivial conversation. It was a gift to be around others united in interest in St. Louis and his legacy for the Church and the world today. The format seamlessly transitioned from social time to lecture and panel discussion, which beautifully allowed for refreshments and first reactions to what we had just heard. It was the perfect balance of learning and recreation.”
The Ludovicanum’s fine wine, hors d’oeuvres, and rich conversations were just a preview of the feast day celebrations on which the Knights of Columbus of the Oratory of SS. Gregory and Augustine hosted a complimentary “Louismas” barbeque for hundreds of faithful. Children rushed to the bounce house while adults set up blankets on the grass. It was welcome recreation before everyone mustered for the festival’s crowning event: the solemn procession to the statue of Saint Louis in Forest Park.
The church bell rang for a full fifteen minutes as the procession set out. As usual, the vanguard was made up of a crucifix, a color guard, Knights of Columbus, and Knights of St. John. The Girls’ Guild of Our Lady of Walsingham scattered 30,000 yellow rose petals along the two-mile route, to pave the way for a relic of King Louis and a statue of Our Lady. Clergy and multiple scholae chanted while silk banners billowed in the summer wind.
While not everyone could attend the many liturgies of the feast and its special concert and conferences, the procession was the event on which all of the faithful converged. Mrs. Cathy Saccente, who made the trek with the assistance of a cane, said, “I injured my knee on Easter Sunday, and a huge motivation for completing a round of physical therapy appointments was my determination to be able to once again join the procession to King St. Louis’ statue in Forest Park. Walking with hundreds of faithful Catholics, singing hymns and chanting litanies, is to experience a joy unlike any other: it’s always hot and muggy, there’s literally a final hill to climb when the statue is within view, but in those moments, there is no other place on earth I would rather be. Our hearts are full and it’s as if there is no other choice but to literally spill out into the streets and make our way to the statue to pray the Rosary.”
Upon arrival at the apotheosis of their patron, the faithful prayed the Glorious mysteries and then proceeded to party with local favorite Ted Drewes frozen custard, another treat from the good Knights of Columbus. Starting a new tradition this year, Catholic folk musicians gathered to provide country dance music pro bono for throngs of old and young alike.
The scene aptly embodied the day’s offertory exhortation:
“Let the daughters of Zion rejoin in their King; let them praise His name with dancing, sing to Him with the timbrel and psaltery. Alleluia.”
For updates and information about next year’s festival, please keep an eye on festivalofsaintlouis.com. All are most welcome!
Cover photo courtesy of Mrs. Cori Nations.
All other photos not otherwise attributed courtesy of Mrs. Kiera Petrick.
Video courtesy of Mr. Brad Ramsey
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ (I know he's a material heretic and a Protector of Perverts, and I definitely want him gone yesterday! However, he is Pope, and I pray for him every day.), the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.