Readings for the Feast of St. Louis, King of France
AD 1270 Feast Day: August 25 22
Wisdom 3:1-9
Psalm 21:1-7 or Psalm 112:1-9
Luke 12:22-31
Wisdom 3:1-9
But the souls of the righteous are in
the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.
Psalm 21:1-7
Domine, in virtute tua
1 The king shall rejoice in your strength, O Lord; * how greatly shall he rejoice in your salvation! 2 You have given him his heart’s desire * and have not denied the request of his lips. 3 For you come to meet him with blessings of goodness * and set a crown of pure gold upon his head. 4 He asked of you life and you gave it him, * length of days, for ever and ever. 5 His honour is great because of your salvation; * glory and majesty have you laid upon him. 6 You have granted him everlasting felicity * and will make him glad with joy in your presence. 7 For the king puts his trust in the Lord; * because of the loving-kindness of the Most High, he shall not be overthrown.
or
Psalm 112:1-9
Beatus vir
1 Alleluia. Blessed are those who fear the Lord * and have great delight in his commandments. 2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land, * a generation of the faithful that will be blest. 3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, * and their righteousness endures for ever. 4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; * gracious and full of compassion are the righteous. 5 It goes well with those who are generous in lending * and order their affairs with justice, 6 For they will never be shaken; * the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance. 7 They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; * their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 Their heart is sustained and will not fear, * until they see the downfall of their foes. 9 They have given freely to the poor; their righteousness stands fast for ever; * their head will be exalted with honour.
Luke 12:22-31
Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you-- you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."