The faith in Central Louisiana was first preached by the Spanish Franciscans, but the regular practice of the Catholic Faith was brought to us by French Missionary priests. Those men brought with them the rich devotional practices of central and southern France known today as the “French School” of Spirituality.
That spiritual school is so prevalent in the southern United States that most Catholics have never heard it described even though they know its tenants through and through. The French School of Spirituality traces its roots to the spiritual masters of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Names like St. Louis de Montfort, 
The Altar of the Body of St. John Vianney St. John Vianney and St. Vincent de Paul as well as the mystical Rue du Bac convent mark it to historians, but the outward devotional practices which practically defined Catholicism in the Southern United States from its inception to the middle 20th century are its true legacy. Novenas, Processions, the forty hours devotion, chaplets, devotional candles, elaborate vigils and most of the beloved hymns of our day are the living mark of the French School.
These expressions of faith owe their popularity in large part to the clergy and religious who evangelized and converted so many hearts in this land and in part to the lack of those very same clergy and religious who were so noticeably absent from the practice of the faith during hard years of mission.
The French School was an ideal fit for the rural post-colonial United States as it gave voice to faith and piety and tied the faithful to their own tradition while the Sacraments were unavailable. Once the Diocese of Natchitoches and it’s clergy and religious began providing regular sacramental service, the French School remained to cement and structure the role of the laity in the Church to this very day.
True, some more recent spiritual currents has sought to reduce or even dismiss the outward displays of popular piety, the faithful and the devotional heritage deep within their hearts have preserved the French School to this very day.
These popular devotions remain a profound part of the day to day spiritual life of the faithful at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We adore our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday and offer the traditional prayers for each month throughout the year. We also keep the first Fridays in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the first Saturdays in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Our Lady of Fatima 
sacred by prayer and adoration. We pray the rosary fervently and often. Our patronal feasts - The Nativity of Our Lady, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and St. Joseph’s Day - are celebrated with processions and hymns and the “great southern sacramental,” a true feast of a meal.
Our spiritual history is important to us and we believe strongly in preserving the good gifts that sustained our parents and grandparents and so we keep the French School alive and well here in Campti.