Novena to St. Louis IX, King of France

Day 4

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 4: Love of the poor

The king fed hundreds of the poor daily, served them at his own table with his own hands, and even tended lepers whom others shunned, washing their sores in secret. He founded hospitals and gave alms without measure, seeing in every beggar the face of Christ. He shows that the greatness of a soul is measured not by its station but by its tenderness toward the least, and that to serve the poor is to serve the Lord himself.

O St. Louis, who served the poor with your own hands and saw Christ in the leper, obtain for me generosity and compassion toward the poor and suffering, that I may give without counting the cost and honor the Lord in the least of my brothers. Amen.

Today's intention:

For generosity and compassion toward the poor and suffering.

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.