Saint Louis and the Common Good
A few weeks ago, we explored the Catholic Social Teaching concept of the common good. As a reminder, the common good is all the foundational elements in society that help all people flourish. It includes access to basic resources like food and water, the good of life from conception to natural death, religious freedom, fair labor practices, care for creation, and peace and security are all examples of the common good. These goods are not divisible or private but benefit all equally. We turn to the holiest medieval king, St. Louis (like Missouri), to see what this looks like put into practice.
King Louis IX (feast day August 25th) came to the throne at the ripe old age of 12 when his father died unexpectedly after a military campaign. His pious mother, Blessed Blanche of Castile, reigned for him until he turned 18 and then Louis himself consolidated his kingdom by working out peaceful agreements with the many nobles vying for influence. After going on an initial crusade to protect the Holy Land’s Christians, he returned home with a crusader’s zeal for making his kingdom just and holy.
Louis first understood that maintaining the peace of his kingdom required a just legal system available to all. Each community had established customs that regulated daily life. When these were upended by greedy nobles or deceitful laborers, the king’s investigators would discover who had acted unjustly and would supply a helpful remedy. These investigators would also root out corruption among the king’s administrators. This way of proceeding protected the common good by ensuring access to just legal remedies that prevented oppression from above or rebellion from below.
Louis himself practiced abundant charity to the poorest citizens, washing their feet and feeding them from his own household supplies. But beyond simple gifts, he also established hospitals and institutions so that the poor had access to medical care and refuge. By doing so, he demonstrated that people could thrive when given opportunities to rise above abject poverty. He also provided peace and security for his people by reconciling with neighboring nations. He resolved a dispute with the English king by making concessions that, while giving away extra territory, brought years of peace. Lasting peace was a greater good for all than military victory that would prolong war.
Pope Leo recently encouraged Catholic legislators to pursue the common good which “ensures the freedom to seek truth, to worship God, and to raise families in peace. It also includes a harmony with creation and a sense of solidarity across social classes and nations” (August 23rd speech). While we don’t have the authority or power of a king like St. Louis, each of us has a sphere of influence in which we can help others thrive. We can do a lot within our local community here in southeastern Wisconsin and at St. Stephen to ensure the goods of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to many. Ponder how you can manage your household, your relationships, your work, and your parish participation for God’s glory and the betterment of all people.
-Fr. Stephen