21/06/2026
800 years ago, a father wrote a letter to his son.
Except this father was no ordinary man.
He was Louis IX, King of France.
At only 12 years old, Louis lost his father and inherited a kingdom. While most children his age were still learning about the world, he was being prepared to rule one of the most powerful realms in medieval Europe.
His mother, Blanche of Castile, guided him through those early years and taught him the responsibility that came with a crown.
Decades later, Louis found himself on the other side of that same story. Now he was the father.
Near the end of his life, as his son Philip prepared to inherit France, Louis left behind something more valuable than castles, jewels, or a throne.
He left him his words.
Translated from his final teachings to his son:
“Dear son, the first thing I teach you is that you love God with all your heart and with all your strength.
If God sends you adversity, receive it with patience and give thanks to our Lord for it. If He sends you prosperity, thank Him humbly, so that you do not become worse through pride.
Have a heart full of pity toward the poor and unfortunate, and comfort and help them as much as you can.
Take care that your company be composed of upright men. Flee the society of the wicked, and hold good converse willingly with the good.
Fair and dear son, I give thee all the blessings that a good father may give his son.
May God give thee grace to do His will always, so that He may be honored in thee, and that thou and I may both, after this mortal life is ended, be with Him together.”
The boy who once became king too soon grew into a father trying to prepare his own son for the weight he once carried.
Today, Louis IX’s castles have changed. His crown has passed through countless hands. The France he knew looks very different.
But nearly 800 years later, a father’s advice to his child still remains.
Because perhaps the greatest legacy a father leaves behind is not built in stone, but built in the hearts of those who come after him.
Happy Father’s Day 🤍
