Welcome back to another episode of Five Minutes in Church history.

On this episode, we are talking about the namesake of the great city of St. Louis, that Gateway City to the West with its famous art.

You've probably assumed that St. Louis is named for

someone, but you might not know who it is. Well, it is Louis. Louis the Ninth, the king of France.

Louis the Ninth stepped onto the throne in 1226. He was 12 years old.

He was actually the fourth child born to the king,

but his three older siblings all died at an early age,

leaving him the heir.

He started his reign in 1226, and he stepped off the throne, the time of his death, 44 years later,

in 1270. Incidentally, his reign, 1226 to 1270, nearly coincides with the life of Thomas Aquinas.

He lived 1225 to 1274.

Meanwhile, back to Louis the Ninth.

He is considered one of France's greatest kings,

if not one of the greatest kings of the medieval era.

He was known for his piety.

He wanted France to be a great nation, but he thought at first had to be a good nation in

order to be great.

He committed himself to being a moral exemplar, and then he turned his focus on the nation.

He would punish his soldiers when they behaved badly, unlike previous kings who let those things slide.

He was also known as a very contemplative man, and he enjoyed hearing sermons.

He was not immune from the negative aspects of medieval piety.

He collected relics and he attached spiritual significance to the relics and

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