I. Qualiter laus regis Josiae regi Ludovico conveniat
I. Qualiter laus regis Josiae regi Ludovico conveniat
First of all, I want to take up the commendation of the pious king, as it is written in praise of King Josiah in Ecclesiasticus 49: "The memory of Josiah is like the fragrance of a perfume made by a skilled perfumer; his memory is sweet like honey in every mouth, and like music at a wine feast." He was divinely directed in the repentance of his people, removing the abominations of impiety, governing his heart toward the Lord, and strengthening piety in the days of sin. Moreover, many praises of King Josiah are mentioned in the fourth book of Kings. In comparison to the second book of Chronicles, there are more praises. Chapter thirty-four contains praises that seem particularly relevant to our king. He did not turn to the right or to the left. His mother's name was Jedidah. He restored the temple and the house of the Lord. No king like him arose before him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul, and strength; nor did any arise like him after. For he made a Passover like none that had been made before him, nor did any king make one like it. We can express how all these things appropriately relate to our glorious king in their proper contexts.
Read the original Latin
In primis igitur, ad pii regis commendationem assumere mihi libet, quod in laudem regis Josiae in Ecclesiastico xlix legitur : Memoria, inquit, Josiae in compositione odoris facta est opus pigmentarii ; in omni ore quasi mel indulcabitur ejus memoria, et ut musica in convivio vini. Ipse directus est divinitus in paenitentia gentis, et abstulit abominationes impietatis, et gubernavit ad Dominum cor suum, et in diebus peccatorum corroboravit pietatem.
Praeterea, ad commendationem dicti regis Josiae plurima dicuntur tam in iv libro Regum, cap. xxii, quàm in ii Paralipom. xxxiv, quae ad laudem regis nostri propriè pertinere videntur : Cùm adhuc, inquit, puer esset Josias, coepit quaerere Dominum, fecitque quod rectum et placitum erat in conspectu Domini, et ambulavit per omnes vias David patris sui. Non declinavit ad dexteram neque ad sinistram. Nomen matris ejus Ydida. Fecit instaurari templum et domum Domini. Similis illi non fuit ante eum rex, qui reverteretur ad Dominum in omni corde suo, et in tota anima sua, et in universa virtute sua : neque post ipsum surrexit similis illi. Fecit enim phase, quale ante non fuit, neque quisquam de regibus fecit tale.
Qualiter haec omnia congrue ad gloriosum regem nostrum pertineant, poterimus exprimere suis locis.
Life of St Louis IX — Selections companion
Louis kept his rule with the help of fixed daily readings. Keep yours the same way.
Chosen Portion supplies the sacred-reading line of your checklist automatically: one historic portion every morning.
Geoffrey records that Louis bound himself to fixed daily devotions and sacred reading; Chosen Portion covers that fixed-reading commitment with a scheduled historic portion each morning.
- Check off the daily-reading habit in under 10 minutes each morning
- Readings from the saints and texts Louis's own generation prayed with
- Track a 30-day run at your rule with daily streaks and reminders