History and Facts about Blessed Louis
Blessed Louis feast day is September 11th. The
German prince lived during the last part of the twelfth and first part of the
thirteenth centuries. He married St. Elizabeth of Hungary when he was
twenty-one and she was just fourteen.
The marriage had been arranged by their parents. This was
the custom. But they both loved God, and he gave them a great love for each
other.
They had a happy home. Their joy increased when God blessed them with
their three children. The youngest was Blessed Gertrude.
Louis helped his wife in her many works of charity for the
poor. He also joined her in devout prayer. Time after time, the people saw
their handsome prince and his lovely wife helping the poor.
It is said that once Elizabeth brought a leper into their
castle and nursed him in their bed. For a moment, when Louis saw that, he was
angry. Then, suddenly, instead of the leper, he saw our crucified Lord lying
there. After that proof of how much Jesus appreciated Elizabeth's charity,
Louis had a hospital for lepers built.
One long, bitter cold
winter, Louis had to be away from his land. When he returned, Elizabeth was
overjoyed. The next year Louis left on a Crusade to free the Holy Land from the
Muslims But on his way, he caught malaria, and soon was dying because he had
always lived in close union with Jesus, the brave ruler felt no fear of death.
He received the Last Sacraments and died peacefully in 1227.
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