Novena to St. Louis IX, King of France

Day 3

10 min

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to St. Louis IX, King of France

Opening prayer:

O St. Louis, holy king and faithful father, you wore an earthly crown without losing sight of the heavenly one. Teach me to serve God in the duties of my state, to love justice, and to seek first the Kingdom that does not pass away. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 3: Justice for all

Louis sat beneath an oak at Vincennes to hear the pleas of even the humblest subjects, refusing to let power excuse injustice and judging rich and poor by the same measure. He sent inquisitors through the realm to right the wrongs of his officials. He teaches that authority is a trust to be exercised for the good of others, never for oneself, and that a ruler must answer to God for every soul placed under his care.

O St. Louis, just king who judged the poor and the powerful by one measure, obtain for all who hold authority the grace to govern with justice, mindful that their power is a trust from God, to be spent for the good of those entrusted to them. Amen.

Today's intention:

For all who hold authority, that they may govern with justice.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

St. Louis, who counted your baptism a greater honor than your throne, intercede for me before the King of kings whom you served so faithfully. Obtain the grace I seek in this novena, and a heart that rules its own desires for the love of God. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.