August 19th - St. Louis of Toulouse
Traudel
The son of Charles II of Naples and Sicily, Louis was born in 1274 and named
after his uncle, the holy king of France. It was the great concern of his
mother, the niece of St. Elizabeth, to rear her many children as true
servants of the King of Kings.
The devout queen observed in her son Louis particularly blessed results of
his maternal solicitude. He loved prayer, was reserved and gentle, and his
whole conduct radiated angelic purity. Even as a child he practiced
mortification. On a certain occasion, after he had retired, his mother found
him sleeping on a rug on the floor of his room instead of in his comfortable
bed.
Sweets and delicious foods he carried to the poor and sick with his mother's
permission. It is related that once he was leaving the dining room with a
roasted pullet under his mantle and so met his father. The king wished to
see what he was carrying. Timidly the boy laid back his mantle, and lo, it
was a beautiful bouquet of flowers!
When he was 14 Louis was taken to Barcelona with two of his brothers, as a
hostage for the release of his father, who had been taken a prisoner of war.
Gladly did Louis accept this misfortune to obtain his father's freedom; but
at the same time, the disposition with which he accepted it was astonishing
in a boy of his age. "Misfortune," he said, "is more useful to the friends
of God than good fortune, for on such occasions they can prove their loyalty
to their Lord."
Under the guidance of several excellent Franciscan friars who were appointed
teachers to the young princes, Louis made remarkable progress in virtue as
well as in secular knowledge. In public debates he manifested his mastery of
the various branches of knowledge, both sacred and profane. Theology was his
favorite subject. So devoid was he of ambition that he planned to renounce
his claims to the throne in order to devote himself entirely to the service
of God.
About this time he became seriously ill. He made a vow that if he recovered,
he would join the Order of Friars Minor. The sickness immediately took a
turn for the better, but the superiors of the order hesitated to receive the
young prince without the consent of the king, his father. Louis was thus
obliged to defer his pious design.
At the end of six years his captivity ended. On returning home, after much
pleading he finally obtained the permission of his father to settle his
claims on his brother Robert, and to become a priest. Not very long after
his ordination, and although he was only 21 years old, he was selected by
Pope Boniface VIII for the bishopric of Toulouse. "Whatever is lacking to
the young priest in age and experience, " said the pope, "his extraordinary
knowledge, his maturity of mind, and his holiness of life will amply
supply."
Louis had to yield to the pope's wishes, but he requested that he might
first be admitted into the Order of Friars Minor. That request was granted.
The royal prince was overjoyed to be permitted, for a time at least, to
perform the humblest exercises in the garb of a son of St. Francis; in Rome
he went from door to door gathering alms.
The pope himself officiated at the ceremony of episcopal consecration, and
shortly afterwards Louis left to assume the government of his diocese. His
noble birth and above all the fame of his sanctity caused him to be received
at Toulouse like a messenger from heaven. The entire city went out to meet
him, and everybody was enchanted with his modesty, sweetness, and angelic
virtue which radiated from his face and bearing. A sinner who for many years
had lived a wicked life, cried out at the sight of him: "Truly, this man is
a saint!" and then turned away from his sinful habits and led a better life.
A woman who doubted the sanctity of the young man went to church one morning
to attend the Mass which the bishop was celebrating. Then she, too, cried
out: "Ah, yes, our bishop is a saint!"
Bishop Louis led the poor and rigorous life of a Friar Minor and devoted
himself with all solicitude to the welfare of his diocese. The poor were his
best friends, and he fed 25 of them daily at his own table. His ministry,
however, was destined to be short-lived. He died in the 24th year of his
life, having been bishop no longer than a year and a half.
He received the last sacraments on the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady;
and on the 19th of August, 1297, while pronouncing the holy name of Mary, he
yielded his soul to God. Because of the many miracles that were wrought at
his tomb, he was canonized as early as 1317, during the lifetime of his
mother.
A PATRON FOR YOUTHFUL STUDENTS
1. What better example than that of St. Louis could be held up to youthful
students. He distinguished himself from his youth by modesty and docility,
and throughout his life he preserved his purity unsullied. He appreciated
and loved his teachers, and applied himself diligently to his studies, in
which he was very successful. He directed all his efforts to the honor of
God and the salvation of his fellowmen, and preserved a cheerful disposition
even in adversity. That is the type of student every Christian youth should
desire to be. The saint, who gave them so brilliant an example on earth,
will also be a powerful patron and intercessor for them in heaven.
2. Consider how important the good behavior of youthful students is to human
society. They will be the future teachers and governors, the directors and
leaders of society. Their predominant sentiments will be the dominating
policies of the majority of the people. For that reason much depends on how
youthful students grow up. They are encompassed by many dangers, and how
many of them lose their innocence and their faith to the detriment of the
many over whom they later exercise influence. Those who are associated with
students and can offer them guidance have the obligation to direct them
toward virtue and to point out to them such saintly examples as St. Louis of
Toulouse. But, it is likewise the duty of every Christian frequently to
recommend youthful students to so powerful a patron as St. Louis.
3. Consider how the example and the protection of St. Louis can help
youthful students especially in two grave dangers that threaten them:
sensuality and ambition. How frequently the one vice wrecks the body and the
other gnaws at the young soul! The mortification which Louis practiced from
his earliest years and the childlike devotion be fostered to our Blessed
Lady made him secure in temperance and purity. His love for the poor and his
lively faith kept him so far away from ambition that he chose the lesser
station of a Friar Minor to that of a royal throne. That is why he is now
wearing the imperishable crown of heavenly glory. In behalf of students let
us frequently invoke him in the words of Holy Church in the office of his
feast: "Vernal rose of charity, lily of purity, shining star, vessel of
sanctity, pray to the Lord for us!"
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O God, who did teach Thy holy confessor and bishop Louis to prefer the
heavenly kingdom to one of earth, and didst marvelously clothe him with
stainless purity and extraordinary love for the poor, grant that by
imitating his virtues here on earth we may deserve to be crowned by Thee in
heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From:
http://www.paxetbonum.net/saints/august.html#21
Saint Quote:
Our wish, our object, our chief preoccupation must be to form Jesus in
ourselves, to make his spirit, his devotion, his affections, his desires,
and his disposition live and reign there. All our religious exercises should
be directed to this end. It is the work which God has given us to do
unceasingly.
-Saint John Eudes
Bible Quote:
For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face:
now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
-1 Cor 13:12.
<><><><>
O MOTHER OF MERCY
O MOTHER of mercy, help of Christians, most faithful
minister of Divine Providence, treasurer of all graces,
remember that never in the world has it been heard that thou
hast left him without comfort who has come to thee with true
devotion. Wherefore I, trusting in thy tender pity and in thy
most generous providence, bend low before thee, praying
that thou wouldst hear my prayer. Obtain for me a holy
provision for the future, namely graces for all my spiritual and
temporal needs. I fervently recommend to thy loving motherly
Heart our Holy Church, the Sovereign Pontiff, the conversion
of sinners, the spread of the Catholic Faith, and those Souls
chosen by our Lord, who are suffering the tormenting flames
of Purgatory, that they may soon be comforted with eternal
refreshment. Amen.