SW News: A priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Fr. Stephen Schumacher, led a group of Catholics in defending the statue of St. Louis IX in Missouri. The group prayed the rosary and sang hymns while around 200 protestors were present who had planned to pull down the statue.

Fr. Schumacher also addressed the mob, trying to present the historical facts about St. Louis IX of France.

In a Twitter video posted by Joel Currier, Fr. Schumacher could be seen talking to the restless mob that St. Louis was a man who used his kingship to do good for his people.

The statue in the city’s Forest Park in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum was erected in 1906.

As king of France, Louis IX carried out his kingly duties in the light of faith and brought peace and justice in the country during his lifetime.

Louis was devoted to his people, founding hospitals and orphanages, visiting the sick, and caring even for people with leprosy.

Every day, Louis had special guests from among the poor to eat with him. He also took part in the seventh and eighth crusades.

Revered as a saint even before his death, the king was canonized by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297.