August 19 + Saint Louis of Toulouse

Louis was the second son born to Charles II of Naples and Sicily, and Maria Arpad of Hungary, the daughter of King Stephen V of Hungary. Louis was related to Saint Louis IX on his father’s side and to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary on his mother’s side.

Louis showed early signs of attachment to prayer and to the works of mercy. As a child he used to take food from the castle to feed the poor. He loved prayer, was reserved and gentle, and his whole conduct radiated angelic purity. Even as a child he practiced mortification. On certain occasions, after he had retired, his mother would find him sleeping on a rug on the floor of his room instead of in his comfortable bed.

When his father was taken prisoner in Italy, during the war with King Peter III of Aragon, he obtained his own freedom by giving over his three sons as hostages. The boys were taken to Catalonia, where they were placed under the care of Franciscan friars for their education and held for seven years. Impressed by the friars, Louis took up the study of philosophy and theology. Though still held in captivity, Louis was made Archbishop of Lyon as soon as he reached his majority.

When his older brother died of plague, Louis also became heir to his father's secular titles; however, when he was freed that same year, Louis went to Rome and gave up all claims to his royal inheritance and announced that instead he would take the Franciscan vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

In 1297, Louis was consecrated Bishop of Toulouse by Boniface VIII. Louis rapidly gained a reputation for serving the poor, feeding the hungry, and ignoring his own needs. After just six months, however, exhausted by his labors, he abandoned the position of Bishop. Shortly thereafter he died of a fever at age 23.