LUDWIG-MISSIONSVEREIN. — The Ludwig Mission Society was founded in 1838 by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and in 1839 it merged with the Lyons Propagation of the Faith. It became independent in 1844 with its own statutes and council, and the right to send funds directly to the missions.
From 1848 it had its own edition of the Annals of the Propagation of the Faith. It specialized particularly in the diaspora in Germany and German emigrants in North America. In 1923 it was incorporated as the Bavarian branch of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, though retaining its name. Since 1918 it has published the journal *Die Weltmission der katholischen Kirche*.
Bibl.: Th. Roemer, *The L.-M. and the church in the United States 1838–1918*, Washington 1933; W. Mathäser, *Der L.-M. in der Zeit König Ludwigs I. von Bayern*, Munich 1939.