There once was a government leader so holy he became a saint. St. Louis IX, King of France, dedicated himself to the service of God. The Chronicle of the Crusade of St. Lewis (sic) tells of the advice he gave his eldest son. Let us imitate him.
“Fair son, the first thing I would teach thee is to set thine heart to love God; for unless he love God none can be saved. Keep thyself from doing aught that is displeasing to God, that is to say, from mortal sin. Contrariwise thou shouldst suffer every manner of torment rather than commit a mortal sin….If God send thee adversity, receive it in patience and give thanks to our Saviour and bethink thee that thou hast deserved it, and that He will make it turn to thine advantage. If He send thee prosperity, then thank Him humbly, so that thou becomest not worse from pride or any other cause, when thou oughtest to be better. For we should not fight against God with his own gifts.
“Confess thyself often and choose for thy confessor a right worthy man who knows how to teach thee what to do and what not to do; and bear thyself in such sort that thy confessor and thy friends shall dare to reprove thee for they misdoings. Listen to the services of Holy Church devoutly, and without chattering; [Note well you who chatter in Church!] and pray to God with thy heart and with thy lips, and especially at Mass when the consecration takes place. Let thy heart be tender and full of pity toward those who are poor, miserable, and afflicted, and comfort and help them to the utmost of thy power.
“If thou hast any great burden weighing upon thy heart, tell it to thy confessor or to some right worthy man who is not full of vain words. Thou shalt be able to bear it more easily…. See that thou hast in thy company men, whether religious or lay, who are right worthy and loyal and not full of covetousness, and confer with them oft; and fly and eschew the company of the wicked. Hearken willingly to the Word of God and keep it in thine heart, and seek diligently after prayers and indulgences Love all that is good and profitable and hate all that is evil, wheresoever it may be.
“Let none be so bold as to say before thee any word that would draw or move to sin, or so bold as to speak evil behind another’s back for pleasure’s sake; nor do thou suffer any word in disparagement of God and of his saints to be spoken in thy presence. Give often thanks to God for all the good things he has bestowed on thee….be upright and firm, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, but always to what is just, and do thou maintain the cause of the poor until such a time as the truth is made clear. And if anyone has an action against thee, make full inquiry until thou knowest the truth; for thus shall thy counsellors judge the more boldly according to the truth, whether for thee or against….Labor to free thy land from all vile iniquity, and especially strike down with all thy power evil swearing and heresy.”