Louis of Granada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Venerable Louis of Granada OP
Born	Luís Sarria 1504 Granada
Died	31 December 1588 (aged 84) Lisbon, Portugal
Venerated in	Catholic Church

Louis of Granada (1504 – 1588) was a famous Dominican friar. He was known as a great writer, preacher, and thinker. The Catholic Church calls him "Venerable." This means he is on the path to becoming a saint.

Early Life and Education

Louis Sarria was born in Granada, Spain, in 1504. His family was poor. When he was 19, he joined the Dominican Order. This is a group of Catholic priests and brothers.

He studied at the Holy Cross Priory in Granada. Later, his leaders chose him to study at the College of St. Gregory in Valladolid. This special school was for very talented Dominican students.

A Life of Preaching and Writing

After his studies, Louis became a preacher. He was very successful for 40 years. His fame spread beyond Spain. The Cardinal-Infante, Dom Henrique of Portugal, asked him to move to Portugal.

In 1557, Louis became the leader of the Portuguese Dominicans. He was known for his holiness, knowledge, and wisdom. The queen regent of Portugal chose him as her advisor. He was offered important positions, like bishop and archbishop. He even turned down the chance to become a cardinal from Pope Sixtus V. He politely refused all these honors.

Louis of Granada wrote many books. Most of his writings were about spiritual topics. They were translated into many languages. His most famous book is The Sinner's Guide, published in 1555. It is known for its beautiful Spanish writing style. Many people found it inspiring. It has been compared to The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. This book was quickly translated into Italian, Latin, French, German, Polish, and Greek. Louis earned a lot of money from his books, but he gave it all to the poor.

In 1539, when he was 35, he wrote a small guide on how to pray. This guide grew into his first book, The Book of Prayer and Meditation, published in 1554. Its success led him to write more spiritual books for everyone. He lived a simple life, with few belongings. He wrote for 35 years and produced 49 works.

Louis of Granada died in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1588. He was 84 years old.

Famous Works

Louis de Granada wrote 45 works in Spanish, Latin, and Portuguese. Some were original books, others were translations or updated versions of his own works.

Here are some of his well-known books:

• The Book of Prayer and Meditation (1554)
• A Memorial of a Christian Life (1565)
• The Sinner's Guide (1556, 1557)
• Introduction to the Symbol of Faith (1584)
• Life of Jesus Christ: To Know, Love, and Imitate Our Lord
• Life of Mary: Life and Mystery of the Blessed Virgin

A collection of his works was published in 9 volumes in Antwerp in 1578.

His Lasting Influence

Many famous Catholics have read and loved Louis of Granada's works. These include Rose of Lima, Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, Francis de Sales, Cardinal Berulle, Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, Charles Borromeo, and Louis of Leon. Teresa of Ávila also read his books and told her nuns to read them.

Rose of Lima especially loved The Book of Prayer and Meditation. It is said that she once used this book to fight off temptations from the devil. The devil supposedly snatched the book and threw it away, but Rose calmly believed God would return it, and it did.

Francis de Sales highly recommended Louis of Granada's books. He told a bishop to read them carefully, especially The Sinner's Guide. He said, "You must read him with reverence and devotion, like a book containing the most useful inspirations man can receive from on high."

See also

In Spanish: Luis de Granada para niños