Catholic Saints Podcast: St. Louis IX

Host: Dr. Ben Akers (B)
Guest: Dr. Christopher Bloom (A)
Produced by: Augustine Institute
Episode Date: August 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the life and legacy of St. Louis IX, King of France—one of the Church’s most revered lay saints. Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Christopher Bloom explore his historical context, his remarkable faith, public deeds, and interior sanctity. The discussion draws parallels between St. Louis and modern saints like Pope John Paul II, extracting lessons applicable to contemporary Catholic life, especially regarding leadership, holiness, and public service.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Context and Introduction to St. Louis IX

• 13th Century as "The Greatest of Christian Centuries"

  • Noted for a flourishing of saints (St. Dominic, St. Francis), educational reform, and architectural marvels like Sainte-Chapelle.
  • “Can you imagine having a president that's canonized ... and to have a king, a ruler of a secular country, a secular ruler that's canonized by the Church. There's some lessons for us to learn today.” (B, 01:15)

• Louis IX’s Upbringing and Spiritual Formation

  • Raised by a deeply pious mother, Blanche of Castile (“she'd rather see her son die than commit a single mortal sin” [A, 05:59]).
  • Tutored by figures from new ecclesial movements: Dominicans and Franciscans.
  • "She makes sure that he has teachers and tutors and moral guides from the, as it were, new ecclesial movements of the 13th century." (A, 06:57)

2. Comparison to John Paul II: Public Life as a Path to Sanctity

• Both figures surrendered their private lives to serve a public calling.
  • “Both men in effect gave up their private lives in order to live completely public lives that were absolutely open to view and completely at the service of the roles which God had given to them providentially.” (A, 02:37)
• Both inspired and evangelized through the vocation entrusted to them.

3. St. Louis IX’s Faith-driven Leadership

• Early commitment to Crusades and the defense of the Holy Land.

  • “From right about the beginning of his reign ... he's thinking about getting to Jerusalem.” (A, 09:18)

• Patronage of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, built as a reliquary for relics of Christ’s Passion.

  • The chapel is noted for its remarkable glasswork and the treasures it housed, including the Crown of Thorns.
  • “At the time, the ornate work ... was 1/5 the cost of the gold and silver reliquary case that the king commissioned to hold the relics themselves, which is unbelievable.” (A, 12:41)

4. The Crusades: Motivations and Realities

• Louis IX led two crusades.

• Crusades motivated not by conquest but by the protection of Christians and preservation of pilgrimage routes.

  • “The goal was twofold. It was to protect Christians ... and to keep the pilgrimage routes open in perpetuity.” (A, 15:16)

• He personally stayed in the Holy Land, fortifying cities, often amidst domestic criticism for his prolonged absence.

  • “All of the French barons...are insisting that he owes it to his kingdom to go back to France. And one young man, Jean de Joinville appeals...” (A, 18:47)

• Notable Moment: The king is persuaded by Jean de Joinville to remain in the Holy Land, even against the advice of seasoned barons.

  • “If you leave the whole project of the Crusade, the whole Christian Holy Land is going to be snuffed out in a matter of months. You must stay here and help fortify these cities...” (A, 19:22)

• On his second crusade: Louis IX dies of illness in Tunisia, a victim of an unsuccessful diplomatic overture. (A, 25:07)

5. Personal Sanctity: Austerity, Humility, and Service

• Louis IX was known for personal asceticism—he never dictated food menus, added water to his wine, and performed penances unusual for a monarch.

  • “He never dictated the menu. For a Frenchman, this is astonishing.” (A, 21:32)
  • “This king added water to his wine, and he added so much water to his wine that you could see through it. This is like heresy for a Frenchman, you know.” (A, 21:57)

• His daily charity: serving the poor, establishing hospitals for women and the blind, eating leftovers from the poor's plates and washing their feet.

  • “He himself, I remember reading that would serve 100 people a day. Poor people at his table every day, and eat their scraps...even wash their feet.” (B, 27:25)

6. Canonization and Enduring Legacy

• Canonized within a generation of his death, celebrated as a "peacemaker" (Rex Pacificus):

  • “The liturgical evidence...portraying him as a peacemaker.” (A, 23:10)

• France entered an unprecedented era of peace during and after his reign.

• His example: total devotion to duty, considering resignation to pursue a monastic life, but counseled to persevere in secular rulership as his vocation.

  • “He asked his confessor at a certain point after his crusade, can I lay down the crown? I would like to retire to a private life of prayer and let my son take up the kingdom.” (A, 28:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On His Mother’s Influence:
  • “She’d rather see her son die than commit a single mortal sin.” (A, 06:08)
• On Relics & Sainte-Chapelle:
  • “What the king really cared about was that the relics of the Passion be suitably displayed.” (A, 13:22)
• On Crusading as Evangelization:
  • “The Crusade was for the sake of evangelization. Now, it's important to understand here that that does not mean forcing people to convert at the edge of the sword. That was not going on. No, what it meant was taking teams of Dominicans and Franciscans to the Holy Land and sending missionaries ... A couple of these Dominicans went all the way to China from there.” (A, 24:06)
• On Public Criticism of His Piety:
  • “And the refrain is that you don't want to be king, you want to be a monk.” (A, 28:37)
• On Parallels with John Paul II:
  • “If that's the worst thing that we can say about our rulers, you know, after they live their whole life out in the public eye, well, that's pretty good. And of course, John Paul has that same legacy for us.” (A, 29:19)
• On Holiness and Witness:
  • “The saints are. They give us great models of charity, the perfection of holiness. The holiness is the perfection of charity.” (B, 27:09)

Important Timestamps

• 00:14: Introduction to St. Louis IX and episode focus
• 02:04: Dr. Bloom’s personal family connection to Louis IX
• 05:59: The importance of faith formation from mothers and new ecclesial orders
• 09:15: Consequences of Jerusalem's fall, beginnings of St. Louis's reign
• 11:35: Sainte-Chapelle's function and significance
• 14:36: Louis IX’s two crusades and goals for Christian protection and evangelization
• 19:22: The pivotal debate in the Holy Land—Joinville's counsel (Jean de Joinville’s testimony)
• 21:32: Remarkable personal austerity
• 23:00: Louis IX as peacemaker; canonization context
• 27:25: Louis IX’s charitable acts for the poor
• 28:34: The king’s desire for monastic life and obedience to vocation

Conclusion

Dr. Akers and Dr. Bloom celebrate St. Louis IX as a paragon of Christian kingship, whose legacy bridges public duty and personal sanctity. The conversation highlights the contemporary relevance of his witness, especially in serving God and neighbor through one’s station in life—whether king or layperson. St. Louis’s integration of faith with public life, his humility, and his tireless charitable works make him a powerful intercessor and model for today’s faithful.

To Learn More:
Explore recommended readings like Jean de Joinville’s Life of St. Louis and visit the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris for a living testament to his faith.

(For further viewing and resources, visit formed.org, produced by the Augustine Institute.)