Saint Louis of Toulouse
Saint Louis of Toulouse (born February 9, 1274 AD in Nocera Inferiore, Campania, Italy; died August 19, 1297 AD in Brignoles, Provence, France) was a French prince, the nephew of Saint Louis IX of France, who renounced the Kingdom of Naples to become a Franciscan friar. He was appointed Bishop of Toulouse but died at age 23, only months into his episcopate, from illness. He was canonized in 1317. He is famous in art as a young bishop in a blue cope holding a lily and a crown — the symbols of his rejected kingdom. His feast day is August 19.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Louis of Toulouse
| Saint Louis of Toulouse | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 19 |
| Profession | Franciscan friar; bishop; prince |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans); House of Anjou; nephew of Saint Louis IX of France; Bishop of Toulouse (briefly) |
| Patronage | Toulouse; youth; those who renounce wealth and power for God; Franciscan Order; House of Anjou |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments over a Franciscan habit; crown (rejected kingdom of Naples); lily (chastity and purity); youth (he died at 23); the Simone Martini altarpiece |
| Birthplace | Nocera Inferiore, Campania, Italy (or Brignoles, France — sources differ) |
| Death Place | Brignoles, Var, Provence, France |
| Cause of Death | Natural death from illness; died August 19, 1297, at Brignoles, Provence, only a few months after being consecrated Bishop of Toulouse; he was 23 years old |
| Primary Shrine | Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice, Italy — his relics are partially here; also relics in Marseille and Toulouse; his cult spread widely in France and Italy; the Simone Martini altarpiece painted for his canonization is in the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); August 19 |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; feast in the Franciscan tradition |
Biography
Louis was born in 1274, son of Charles II of Naples and grandson of Charles I of Anjou. His great-uncle was Saint Louis IX of France. In 1288, at age 14, he and his brothers were sent as hostages to the court of James II of Aragon to guarantee his father's release. He spent seven years in captivity, during which he came under Franciscan influence and felt a call to religious life.
On his release in 1295, he formally renounced his claim to the Kingdom of Naples in favor of his brother Charles. He received the Franciscan habit. Pope Boniface VIII then appointed him Bishop of Toulouse — an appointment he accepted as an act of obedience, stipulating he could make his Franciscan profession first.
He was consecrated bishop in February 1297, served the see for only a few months, fell gravely ill, and died at Brignoles in Provence on August 19, 1297. He was 23 years old.
Pope John XXII canonized him at Avignon on April 7, 1317. His iconography — established by Simone Martini's altarpiece painted for the canonization — shows him in episcopal vestments over his Franciscan habit, with a crown at his feet.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Nocera Inferiore, Campania, Italy (or Brignoles, France — sources differ)
Death location: Brignoles, Var, Provence, France
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Louis of Toulouse have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| August 18 Saint Louis of Toulouse | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| St. Louis of Toulouse | 5–15 minutes | Daily Lives of Franciscan Saints |
| Aug 19 - St. Louis of Toulouse - Franciscan Saint of the Day | 5–15 minutes | Franciscan Media |
| St. Louis of Toulouse | 5–15 minutes | Radio Immaculata |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice — partial relics.
- Simone Martini altarpiece (1317), Museo di Capodimonte, Naples — the iconic image of his canonization.
Feast day
August 19
Veneration
Saint Louis of Toulouse was canonized in 1317, twenty years after his death, by Pope John XXII. He is venerated in the Franciscan Order and in France, Italy, and the Angevin territories.
Prayers
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Intercessory
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