St. Louis Bertrand
1526-1581

October 9

St. Louis Bertrand received the Dominican habit and was ordained to the priesthood in 1547. He possessed a sweet and gentle disposition which endeared him to everyone he came in contact with. During the plague of 1557 in Valencia, he cared both spiritually and physically for the sick and dying. His gift of preaching brought him to the attention of St. Teresa who sought his counsel in the matter of reforming her order.

He secretly longed to be a missionary in the new world. In 1562 with the permission of his superiors he sailed for the Americas. Even though he spoke only his native language, Spanish, he prayed that he would be understood by those listening to him. He was given the gift of tongues which enabled him to convert thousands of native Indians. Proof of many his success to bring about their conversion, is found in the baptismal registers in his own handwriting in Tubera. Native priests attempted to silence him by administering a deadly draught. It failed to kill him thus fulfilling the words of St. Mark: “If they shall drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them”.

He returned to his native Spain after a brief seven years and spent his remaining years preparing others for the missions. He has been rightfully given the title “Apostle of South America.”

Louis has left us a great example to let our voices be heard by those who do not believe. Let us pray that we too will be given the grace to continue the holy preaching