France: Montfort sur Meu (Birthplace of St. Louis de Montfort)
About St. Louis de Montfort:
Devotion to Saint Louis de Montfort has brought a degree of fame to this town in Brittany in which he was born.
Brittany has a reputation of being the most Catholic area of France and and actually has an ancient dialect, the Breton, which is a language of Celtic origin, and still spoken widely in the region.
Born in the Breton village of Montfort, close to Rennes, France, as an adult Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort identified himself by the place of his baptism instead of his family name, Grignion. After being educated by the Jesuits and the Sulpicians, he was ordained a diocesan priest in 1700. Soon he began preaching parish missions throughout western France. His years of ministering to the poor prompted him to travel and live very simply, sometimes getting him into trouble with Church authorities. In his preaching, which attracted thousands of people back to the faith, Father Louis recommended frequent, even daily, Holy Communion—not the custom then!—and imitation of the Virgin Mary’s ongoing acceptance of God’s will for her life.
Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary, for priests and brothers, and the Daughters of Wisdom, who cared especially for the sick. His book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin has become a classic explanation of Marian devotion.
Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort died in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, where a basilica has been erected in his honor. He was canonized in 1947, and his liturgical feast is celebrated on April 28. He wrote many books on Mariology, perhaps most notably The Secret of the Rosary and True Devotion to Mary.
We celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Louis de Montfort on April 28.
You can find a selection of books and devotionals to Saint Louis de Montfort in our online store.
The home in which grew up is open to visitors and receives overnight guests as well.
There is a pilgrimage route consecrated to the memory of Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort that starts from here.
Saint Louis de Montfort founded several Congregations: the Daughters of Wisdom, the Brothers of St. Gabriel and the Community of the Holy Spirit.
Traveling to Montfort sur Meu:
There is train service as far as Rennes from several cities in France, including Paris. You can then take a bus for the 15 mile trip from Rennes to Montfort sur Meu. Your train ticket will serve as your bus ticket.Get train & bus schedules, see fares & buy tickets here.
Address: 15 Rue de la Saulnerie, 35160 Montfort-sur-Meu.
GPS coordinates: 48° 8′ 12.5448” N, 1° 57′ 21.2580” W
We don’t have a website for his birthplace, but click here for a website of the town of Montfort sur Meu describing the house.
And be sure to click here to learn some of the interesting legends and history of Brittany including Duchess Anne of Brittany, who was Queen of France twice!