Known for His Holiness: Saint Pius X, Pope

Researched by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
 

Pope Pius X was pope from 1903 to 1914. Born in 1835, the son of a postman and a seamstress, he entered seminary in Padua in 1850; he was ordained in 1858. After a few years as curate in Tombolo, he began a swift rise through the Church. He held various assignments and eventually became Bishop (Cardinal) of Venice for a time of ten years. As Pius X, he became known for his diplomacy and holiness. He was a Franciscan Tertiary. He encouraged Catholic Action, revised the breviary, and was so dedicated to promoting daily Communion that he was called the Pope of Frequent Communion. World War I erupted only days before his death on August 20, 1914. He was beatified on June 3, 1951 and canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 29, 1954.

Born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto at Riese, he lived a simple life. His dad died in 1852 but his mother, Margarita lived to see him as a cardinal. When he was 15, he received the tonsure from the Bishop of Treviso and received a scholarship to the seminary in Padua. He was 23 when he was ordained and the next nine years he became the chaplain at Tombolo, helping an aging and invalid pastor. He studied hard, particularly Theology, and established a night school to further Theological studies. At 32, he was appointed pastor of Salzano, where he restored the church and where he showed his Franciscan generosity by enlarging and maintaining a hospital. He is noted for great generosity to the poor. He became a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis, during his time in Salzano.

When he was 40, he was appointed Canon of the Cathedral of Treviso, became the spiritual director and rector of the seminary. He also found a way to have students from public schools receive religious education.

In 1884, now 49, he was named Bishop of Mantua. He busied himself with the formation of clergy at the seminary and taught dogmatic theology, as well as moral theology. He followed the Summa theologica, of St. Thomas Aquinas, and gave copies of these texts to poorer students.

In June 1893, when he was 58, Pope Leo XIII made him cardinal as Patriarch of Venice. Due to governmental conflicts he did not assume this post right away. In 1898, he commenced a diocesan synod where he promoted the use of Gregorian Chant and favored social works in the rural areas of his diocese. Pope Leo XIII died and Bishop Sarto was elected Pope. His coronation was on Sunday, August 9, 1903.

In his many Encyclicals, he addressed such issues as piety among the faithful, and to receive Holy Communion daily, if possible. He dispensed the sick from the pre-communion fast, and in 1910, he decreed that the first Communion of children should not be deferred too long after they had reached the age of discretion.

Pope Pius X, from early age, was a promoter of sacred music, and significantly in 1903, he published a "Motu Proprio" on sacred music in churches and, ordered authentic Gregorian Chant to be used everywhere. He also published a new catechism for the Diocese of Rome. He strove for the purity of faith and often pointed out the dangers of new theological methods. He spent much time battling the abuses in the Church in that time.

He is well known for his generous charity during the great earthquakes of Calabria. Assisted by the generosity of Catholics around the world, he contributed nearly 7 Million francs toward those in need, to build churches, schools, etc. Also, when Mount Vesuvius erupted, he was noted for his charity.

Pope Pius X was respected by Catholics and Non-Catholics alike. His decisions where sound, and always benefiting people. He passed on in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I, which he tried so hard to prevent.

We can learn a lot from Saint Pius X. He promoted devotion to the Eucharist, just as Saint Francis of Assisi had done 700 years before. He is known for his simplicity. He once said: "I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor." The ostentation of the Vatican often was a great penance for this man.

We celebrate his feastday on August 21st. Saint Pius X, pray for us, that we may follow in your footsteps as models of Franciscan simplicity and have a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

Researched by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Sources: Catholic Encyclopedia ( Kevin Knight, NewAdvent.org), and, Day By Day with followers of Francis and Clare by Pat McCloskey, OFM. 1999, St. Anthony Messenger Press.

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