St. Louis Bertrand

Feast Day: October 9

Saint Louis, born in Valencia, Spain January 1, 1526, entered the Order in 1544 against the wishes of his parents. He came to so exemplify the ideals of Dominican life that he was appointed master of novices.

Combining an austere life with zeal for spreading the gospel, he asked to be sent to the farthest parts of the Americas and in 1562 was sent to what is now Colombia. He was given the gift of communicating with the Indians in their own tongues and with the encouragement of Bartolomé de Las Casas defended their rights against the Spanish conquerors.

He returned to Spain in 1569 and again assumed the position of master of novices. He died at Valencia on October 9, 1581. Saint Louis is the patron of novitiates and formation personnel.