May 19 | Saint Ives

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine a world where the rich and powerful hold all the cards, making rules that crush the everyday person. Imagine a courtroom where the odds are completely stacked against you. To make matters worse, even the mighty king of the land is demanding money that isn't his, threatening the livelihoods of the most vulnerable people.

Who is going to stand up for them? Who is brave enough to look the king in the eye and say, no, this is unjust? Today's saint, that's who, St. Ives of Kermerton. Let's set the scene. St. Ives was a French priest who was born on October 17, 1253. He was born into a noble family in Kermartin, which is near Treguier, Brittany. He had access to the best education possible. He studied at the highly prestigious University of Paris, where he worked hard and received a degree in civil law.

But one law degree just wasn't enough. He was hungry for more knowledge, so he traveled to Orleans, where he hit the books again and earned a second degree, this time in canon law. Armed with his massive intellect and two law degrees, he returned home to Brittany. He was quickly appointed as the ecclesiastical judge of Wren.

Throughout all of his intense studies and his time making tough decisions as a judge, he became deeply devoted to Scripture, making sure to read it frequently. His time in the scriptures changed him. It is even said that during this time, Ives may have become a Franciscan tertiary. This means he would have chosen to live a life of strict simplicity and humility, completely letting go of the fancy lifestyle he could have had as a nobleman.

Soon, Ives began to work directly for the bishop of Triguet, and this is where the drama really kicks into high gear. While in this position, he saw that the king was forcing unjust taxation upon the people. Rather than keeping his head down and his mouth shut, Ives boldly worked to oppose the king's unfair taxes in order to care for his diocese. He used his brilliant legal mind and his unmatched courage to fight the king. The people loved him. He came to be known by an awesome title, the advocate and patron of the poor.

Later on in his life, Ives took his devotion a step further and received holy orders, becoming a priest. He spent the rest of his life continuing his hard work for the diocese, specifically serving at the parishes of Tredres and Luenay, which is where he eventually passed away on May 19, 1303. In 1347, he was canonized a saint by Pope Clement VI. Because of his incredible legal mind and his dedication to justice, St. Ives is recognized as the patron saint of lawyers.

St. Ives used everything he had—his noble background, his education, and his voice—to protect people who couldn't protect themselves. This week, look around your own life. Is there someone being treated unfairly? Is there someone being left out or bullied? You can channel the spirit of St. Ives by being an advocate for them. Speak up for someone who doesn't have a voice, and use your own talents to help those around you. And just like St. Ives, don't forget to read your scripture. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.