August 25
Feast of the Holy King and Confessor St. Louis IX
Born into royalty on April 25, 1214 in Poissy, France, Saint Louis was
crowned King of France in 1226 on the death of his father King Louis VIII. He
had been raised in a staunch Catholic atmosphere by his mother Blanche of
Castile, who became regent upon her husband’s death until her son reached
adulthood. The youthful Louis, one of the youngest rulers in French history,
weaned on his faith by his mother exemplified his Catholicity throughout his
life.
It served him well in his long reign which was frought with great crisis
including fending off those who would usurp his throne such as Thibault of
Champagne. At the age of 20, Louis married the daughter of the Count of
Provence, Margaret Berenger and they populated the royal court with eleven
children. At the age of 28 Louis quelled rebellion in the south of France and
followed that up by soundly defeating the English and King Henry III at the
Battle of Taillebourg. With that accomplished, he turned his attention to
bringing all the provinces in line with the king, securing this with victories
over Guienne, Poitou and Toulouse.
Satisfied that France was safe, Louis set his sights on his life-long
goal to lead the Crusades in liberating the Holy Land in 1248. His ambitions,
at first successful with victory over the Saracens at Damietta in 1249 met
harsh reality at the Massacre of El Mansura when he was soundly defeated by the
infidels. Historians have not been kind to Louis, claiming his crusade was
ill-timed and poorly planned, but they overlook the fact Louis was a peacemaker
evidence in Louis’ ability to convince his Saracen captors to release him and
his troops in order to reach the Holy Land. It was not a cheap gesture as he
ransomed many treasures and emptied many a coffer to assure their safety. There
in Jerusalem he stayed until 1254 when his beloved mother Blanche died,
prompting him to return to France. Always opting for peaceful measures he
brought calm to Flanders in 1256 and assured, through the Treaty of Paris with
Henry III that the provinces of Anjou, Maine, Normandy, Poitou and Touraine
would remain part of France in exchange for Cahors, Limoges and Perigueux as
Brit territory. He followed that up with the Treaty of Corbeil in 1258 by
giving up Roussillon and Barcelona in order to secure Provence and Languedox
from Aragon.
Once a crusader, always a crusader and in 1270 he set out once again on
an expedition to the Holy Lands. However he would not reach his promised land
this time, succumbing to typhus, as well as his dear son Philip, at Tunis on
the North African coast where he died on August 25, 1270 at the age of 56
leaving a legacy of peace and fairness to posterity. His last words were “Into
Thy hands I commend my soul.” Throughout his life he forged numerous peace
treaties for allies and foes alike. He was a close friend of the great Doctor
of the Church Saint Thomas Aquinas and endowed and founded the Sorbonne
University as well as building impressive cathedrals drawing on the Gothic
theme which flourished during his reign. He was a friend to vassals whom he
protected, forbidding fighting between feudal lords and assuring they would not
mistreat their subjects. Louis was a master of streamlining government while
remaining always true to his word no matter what he said. He built France’s
first Naval operations and, despite his defeats in the Holy Land, was
considered a master military technician.
But war was only a last resort for this saintly king who desired, above
all, peace at home and with his neighbors. He was greatly loved by all who
prospered during his glorious reign of 44 years of peaceful coexistence with
the other countries of Europe as France gained in prestige and profit through
peace. One of his other goals was to reunite the Eastern Church with Rome,
calling on the Greek Ambassadors to work with him toward reunion. What might
have been never materialized for death deprived history of even greater
accomplishments. History, however, cannot deny the fact that Louis, a
Franciscan Tertiary, lived his faith and preached through example. In fact,
this stately king lived the austerity of a monk, praying daily the Divine
Office and attending Daily Mass. He received from the Latin emperor in
Constantinople the priceless gift of the authentic Crown of thorns that pressed
against Our Lord’s skull. To honor this sacramental relic, Louis built the renowned
Sainte Chapelle in Paris. Thirty seven years after his death Pope Boniface VII
canonized Louis, who was a champion of both the poor and privileged classes.
Louis was forever a faithful disciple of Christ Crucified, and his life
bears witness to the truth that virtue is not always rewarded in this world.
Louis was inspired by his zeal for the Faith to attempt the reconquest of the
Holy Places sanctified by the blood of the Redeemer, but instead of triumph and
victory, he only met with defeat and captivity, and when he was at last
ransomed by his people, he brought back to Paris as a symbolic trophy of his
campaigns the crown of thorns once worn by Our Savior. The custom of
genuflecting at the words in the Credo, et homo factus est, and of making
profound reverence at the passage in the Gospels recording the death of Jesus
was introduced by this pious king in his own chapel; they are now part of the
ordinary ceremonial.
Feast of Saint Louis IX, King of France,
Confessor – Tuesday in the Thirteenth Week after Pentecost
Semi-Double/White Missa “Os justi”
INTROIT - Psalm 36: 30-31
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak
judgment: the law of his God is in his heart. Be not emulous of evildoers: nor
envy them that work iniquity. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the
Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without
end.
COLLECT
God, Who didst take Thy blessed confessor, Louis, from an earthly throne
to the glory of the Heavenly kingdom, by his merits and intercession we beseech
Thee that Thou make us to be associates of the King of kings, Jesus Christ Thy
Son. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God…
Second Collect for Petitioning the
Assistance of All Saints
Defend us, O Lord, we beseech thee, from all dangers both of body and
soul: and at the intercession of the blessed and glorious Ever-Virgin Mary,
Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of
all thy Saints, grant us thy saving health and peace; that being defended from all
adversities and all false doctrines, thy Church may serve thee in freedom and
quietness.
EPISTLE - Ecclesiasticus 10:10-14
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom
The Lord conducted the just through the right ways, and showed him the
kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of the holy things; made him
honorable in his labors, and accomplished his labors. In the deceit of them
that overreached him, He stood by him, and made him honorable. He kept him safe
from his enemies, and defended him from seducers, and gave him a strong
conflict that he might overcome, and know that wisdom is mightier than all. She
forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him from sinners: she went
down with him into the pit, and in bands she left him not, till she brought him
the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him; and
showed them to be liars that had accused him: and the Lord our God gave him
everlasting glory.
GRADUAL - Psalm 61: 13,14
The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the
cedar of Lebanon in the house of the Lord.
Psalm 61: 3 To show forth Thy mercy in the morning,
and Thy truth in the night. Alleluia. Alleluia. Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation: for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown
of life. Alleluia.
GOSPEL - Luke 19: 12-26
At that time Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: “A certain
nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to
return. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds; and said to
them, Trade till I come. But his citizens hated him; and they sent an embassage
after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to
pass that he returned, having received the kingdom; and he commanded his servants
to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every
man had gained by trading. And the first came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath
gained ten pounds: and he said to him, Well done, thou good servant, because
thou hast been faithful in a little, thou shalt have power over ten cities. And
the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds: and he said
to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold,
here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin; for I feared thee,
because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou didst not lay down,
and thou reapest that which thou didst not sow. He saith to him, Out of thy own
mouth I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knowest that I was an austere
man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow: and
why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my coming I might
have exacted it with usury? And he said to them that stood by, Take the pound away
from him, and give it to him that hath the ten pounds. And they said to Him,
Lord, he hath ten pounds. But I say to you, that to every one that hath shall
be given, and he shall abound; and from him that hath not, even that which he
hath shall be taken from him.”
OFFERTORY - Psalm 88: 25
My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn
be exalted.
SECRET
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that as blessed Louis, Thy
confessor, spurning the delights of the world, strove only to please Christ,
his King, so his prayer may render us acceptable to Thee. Through the same Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God…
Secret Prayer for Petitioning the
Assistance of All Saints
Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation, and by the power of the
Sacrament defend us from all dangers both of body and soul: granting us in this world the succour of thy
grace, and in the world to come life everlasting.
PREFACE - Common Preface
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at
all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father
almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels
praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The
Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant
chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest
bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS
Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria Tua. Hosanna in
excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
COMMUNION - Matthew 24: 46-47
Blessed is the servant, whom when the Lord shall come, He shall find
watching: Amen I say to you, He shall set him over all his goods.
POSTCOMMUNION
O God, Who didst make Thy blessed confessor, Louis, wonderful on earth
and glorious in Heaven, constitute him, we beseech Thee, the defender of Thy
Church. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God…
Second Postcommunion for Petitioning the
Assistance of All Saints
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the gifts now offered by us in
these holy mysteries may evermore cleanse and defend us: that, at the intercession of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of the holy Apostles Peter and
Paul, and of all thy Saints; we may be absolved from all our offences and
defended against all adversities.
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