St. Louis IX Novena - Day 7 - Charity Toward the Poor, Sick, and Marginalized

Louis fed the poor at his own table, washed their feet, and founded a home in Paris for the blind. We pray for those who suffer and for hearts that do not look away.

Almighty God, Thy Son has told us that whatever we do for the least of His brethren, we do for Him.

We thank Thee for the extraordinary charity of Saint Louis toward the poor, the sick, the afflicted, and the forgotten.

Saint Louis, though thou wert a king, thou didst not consider personal service beneath thy dignity.

Thou didst feed the hungry, assist the poor, support hospitals, care for the suffering, and approach those from whom others recoiled.

Beneath poverty, sickness, misfortune, and disfigurement, thou sought the image of Christ.

Pray for me that prosperity may never harden my heart.

May I never see the poor merely as statistics, political abstractions, inconveniences, or someone else's responsibility.

Teach me concrete charity.

Make me generous with my money, possessions, time, attention, influence, and abilities.

Give me prudence so that my charity truly helps rather than merely making me feel charitable.

Help me remember that every blessing I possess creates responsibilities as well as privileges.

When I encounter suffering that I cannot remove, teach me at least not to turn away.

Saint Louis, teach me to recognize and serve Christ in those who suffer.

Traditional Prayer to Saint Louis IX

O holy King Saint Louis, worthy son of our Holy Father Saint Francis and patron of the Third Order, intercede for me with our Heavenly Father.

Obtain for me the grace to follow in thy footsteps, to be always a dutiful child of Saint Francis, and to observe exactly, all the days of my life, that holy rule which thou loved so ardently and kept so faithfully.

Be my guide and protector, so that I may never stray from the path of virtue, but increase daily in holiness and perfection, and finally merit to be numbered among the chosen ones of our Seraphic Father in Heaven.

Amen.

This prayer comes from the Franciscan Third Order tradition, of which St. Louis is patron.

Litany of Saint Louis IX, King of France

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Saint Louis, King of France, pray for us.
Saint Louis, scion of devout parents, pray for us.
Saint Louis, constant protector of the children of God, pray for us.
Saint Louis, steadfast teacher of piety, pray for us.
Saint Louis, true model of Christian virtue, pray for us.
Saint Louis, faithful confessor of Christ, pray for us.
Saint Louis, kingly bearer of humiliations, pray for us.
Saint Louis, defender of the Faith, pray for us.
Saint Louis, lover of the Holy Cross, pray for us.
Saint Louis, devoted servant of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.
Saint Louis, faithful son of Holy Mother Church, pray for us.
Saint Louis, courageous soldier of Christ, pray for us.
Saint Louis, model of Christian kings, pray for us.
Saint Louis, tender father of thy people, pray for us.
Saint Louis, lover of justice, pray for us.
Saint Louis, friend of peace, pray for us.
Saint Louis, defender of the poor, pray for us.
Saint Louis, protector of widows and orphans, pray for us.
Saint Louis, generous giver of alms, pray for us.
Saint Louis, servant of the sick, pray for us.
Saint Louis, comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Saint Louis, kind friend of enemies, pray for us.
Saint Louis, ardent lover of God, pray for us.
Saint Louis, rapt in prayer to God, pray for us.
Saint Louis, example of penance, pray for us.
Saint Louis, conqueror of thy passions, pray for us.
Saint Louis, despiser of worldly pride and honor, pray for us.
Saint Louis, pilgrim for the Holy Land, pray for us.
Saint Louis, patient in captivity and adversity, pray for us.
Saint Louis, constant in suffering, pray for us.
Saint Louis, persevering unto death, pray for us.
Saint Louis, crowned with eternal glory, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, Saint Louis.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among 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.

Glory Be

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. Amen.

Closing Collect

O God, Who didst exalt blessed Louis, Thy Confessor, from an earthly realm to the glory of Thy heavenly Kingdom, grant, we beseech Thee, through his merits and intercession, that we may be made heirs of the King of kings, Jesus Christ, Thy Son.

May we imitate Saint Louis in faith, courage, justice, charity, purity of life, fidelity to duty, and love of Thy Church, so that after serving Thee faithfully on earth we may rejoice with Thee forever in Heaven.

Through the same Christ our Lord.