Episode Details

A meditation for the Feast of Saint Louis IX, King of France, from Dom Guéranger’s “The Liturgical Year”, Volume V of the Time after Pentecost.Saint Louis IX (1214–1270), King of France, was one of the most renowned Christian rulers of the Middle Ages and a model of the Catholic prince. Ascending the throne as a child, he was formed under the guidance of his devout mother, Blanche of Castile, and throughout his reign sought to govern according to justice, charity, and the law of God. He was known for his personal austerity, frequent prayer, care for the poor, and devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Passion of Christ. He supported the building of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris to house the Crown of Thorns and other relics of Christ's Passion, and he undertook two Crusades to defend and recover the Holy Land. During his second Crusade, he died of disease near Tunis in 1270. Canonized in 1297 by Pope Boniface VIII, Saint Louis remains a particularly celebrated example of holiness in public life, showing that royal authority could be exercised in the service of Christ, His Church, and the poor.Please note that Servant of God Dom Prosper Guéranger went to his eternal reward in 1875; at this point, Volumes I-IX (Advent to Pentecost Saturday) had been completed, but Volumes X-XV (Trinity Sunday to Advent) had not yet been completed. Thus, the remaining readings of the Liturgical Year, from Trinity Sunday until Advent, were not directly authored by Dom Prosper, but were the work of his disciple Dom Lucien Fromage. Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasizing the unity of faith through the axiom lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer is the law of belief"), and remains a cherished resource for Catholics seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. Dom Prosper Guéranger (1805–1875) was a French Benedictine monk, liturgical scholar, and founder of the Solesmes Abbey, renowned for his pivotal role in reviving the Benedictine Order in France and restoring the Roman liturgy after the disruptions of the French Revolution. Born in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, he entered the priesthood in 1827 and, inspired by a vision to restore monastic life, reestablished the Benedictine community at Solesmes in 1833, becoming its first abbot. A staunch defender of ultramontanism and traditional Catholic worship, he also championed the revival of Gregorian chant, significantly influencing the liturgical renewal movement.Link to the Dom Guéranger's Liturgical Year playlist (updated daily): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKdyYnV_bkh7rH6piW0ShgsdcefFoOvJIf you would like to support this channel:  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/InprincipioPodcast PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U5EZ9X2CE2V7W Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/InPrincipioPodcast Zelle: inprincipiopodcast@gmail.com; or search for Zelle tag “inprincipiopodcast”  Checks may be written out to ‘InPrincipio Podcast’ and mailed to: P.O. Box 117 Cedar Ridge, CA 95924Sincere thanks to all who are able to contribute, by your prayers, your patronage, or otherwise. Your support sustains this work and helps make these readings available to others.Artwork: "King St. Louis IX", stained glass, unknown locationMusic: Ave Maria (Gregorian chant)Performed by Schola Gregoriana, Pallottine Seminary (Ołtarzew, Poland)