Today is the feast of yet another great Spanish Saint who has been largely neglected. A Dominican from Valencia he was related to Saint Vincent Ferrer and ordained priest by the Archbishop of Valencia, Santo Tomas de Villanova.
San Luis is the "Apostle of South America", baptizing tens of thousands of natives. Even before he went to the missions he attracted throngs with his incisive preaching in Valencia. He was one of the persons consulted by Saint Teresa about her projects of reform in the Carmelite Order and occasionally was consulted by government officials in the affairs of Spain.
"In demeanor he was grave, and apparently without any sense of humor, yet withal possessed of a gentle and sweet disposition that greatly endeared him to those with whom he came in contact." Catholic Encylopedia 1913
"Saint Louis was one of the earliest missionaries to raise his voice against the rapacity and bad example in general of his countrymen in America."
He died on this day 420 years ago (1581) at the age of 55.
Viva la Espana Catolica!
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