St. Louis, King of France (1214-1270)   Feast Day is August 25th

from a spiritual testament by King Saint Louis IX to his son:

My dearest son, my first instruction is that you should love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your strength. Without this there is no salvation. Keep yourself, my son, from everything that you know displeases God, that is to say, from every mortal sin. You should permit yourself to be tormented by every kind of martyrdom before you would allow yourself to commit a mortal sin. If the Lord has permitted you to have some trial, bear it willingly and with gratitude, considering that it has happened for your good and that perhaps you well deserved it.

If the Lord bestows upon you any kind of prosperity, thank him humbly and see that you become no worse for it, either though vain pride or anything else, because you ought not to oppose God or offend him in the matter of his gifts. Be kindhearted to the poor, the unfortunate and the afflicted. Give them as much help and consolation as you can.

Thank God for all the benefits he has bestowed upon you, that you may be worthy to receive greater. Always side with the poor rather than with the rich, until you are certain of the truth. Be devout and obedient to our mother the Church of Rome and the Supreme Pontiff as your spiritual father.

In conclusion, dearest son, I give you every blessing that a loving father can give a son. May the three Persons of the Holy Trinity and all the saints protect you from every evil.  And may the Lord give you the grace to do his will so that he may be served and honored through you, that in the next life we may together come to see him, love him and praise him unceasingly. Amen

The post St. Louis the King: Patron of Franciscan Tertiaries first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Louis King of France as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed from the time of his upbringing.  St. Louis King of France, your father died when you were only twelve years old. But your holy mother ensured that you were brought up in the Faith and helped you begin on the path of serving God.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served!

As you grew to maturity, your Faith and holiness matured as well. You did all you could serve God through your office as King and to lead others to holiness. Pray for me, that I may do all I can to serve God worthily in my life. Pray that I may be as devoted a servant of God as you were.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).  St. Louis King of France, pray for us!

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

(August 25th is the Feast of St. Louis, Patron of the Franciscan Third Order)

The post A Petition Prayer to St. Louis the King first appeared on AirMaria.com.