Louis X111 of France
(King of France)
I am sure you have often heard it said that Friday is an unlucky day,
that nothing should ever be undertaken on that day, and so forth. This
superstition is very common in Paris, which, nevertheless, pretends to be
the first city in the world. Louis X111, King of France, was not one of
those who shared this silly belief.
Having fallen dangerously ill in 1643, Extreme Unction was proposed to
him. He wished to have the opinion of his physicians; he asked Bouvard
whether his disease was curable. "Sire," said Bouvard, "God is
all-powerful."
Then the King, with a gay and smiling countenance, said in the words of
the prophet: "I rejoiced at the things they have told me: we shall go into
the house of the Lord."
And, believing that he was to die on the following day, which was Friday,
he immediately added: "Oh, the desirable, the agreeable news! Oh, the
blessed day for me! this is, indeed, a lucky Friday! But this is not the
first time that Fridays have been favourable to me. It was on a Friday that
I ascended the throne, that I gained my first victory, that I took the city
of St. John d'Angely, and, finally, that I fought Soubisse. But this one
will be the happiest of all my life, since it will place me in Heaven, there
to reign eternally with God."
It was in these so Christian sentiments that this wise prince prepared to
receive the last Sacraments, and then to appear before God. He died on the
14th of May, 1643 --Guillois.
Taken from: Stories from the Catechist (pg 179)
Compiled by: Very Rev. Canon G.E. Howe
Imprimatur: Edm. Canon Surmont, Vicar General, Westminster
Published by: www.TanBooks.com
Coyright: Original 1898
--
Jesse Gomez Jr
In Beautiful Norway
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