Louis was the second child of 18 children born into a French family. His father has a rough temper, which Louis inherited, but battled with it during his entire life. He studied with the Jesuits and began cultivating a great devotion for Mary. Once he was ordained a priest, he wanted to go to the missions but his superiors told him that he would have to make mission in his own country, which at the time was besieged by heresies. One of his concerns was caring for the sick. He was chaplain of large hospitals. He had many difficulties but continued forward. Louis founded, together with his friends, the Missionaries of the Company of Mary.