
Pope Pius X 1835-1914
A reading of the holy Gospel according to Mt 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
REFLECTION:
The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, nicknamed “Bepi” by his family, was born on June 2, 1835 in Riese, Italy, a farming village near Venice.
When he was 11 years old, he told his father that he wanted to become a priest.
He was first in his grammar school class, first in his high school and first in seminary class.
Father Don Sarto flourished with the help of his pastor. He was devoted to the Eucharist, enjoyed preaching and loved young people. His Masses were reverent, his sermons were carefully crafted and moving and, as the oldest boy from a large, poor family, he was able to relate to the poor youth in his parish. Because of his work he was promoted to Monsignor.
He rarely slept and so he earned the nickname, “Perpetuun Mobile”—a machine in perpetual motion.
Monsignor Sarto was known for his quick wit and humility and his love of people. He enjoyed teaching, preaching and administering.
As Bishop, he encouraged and educated the seminarians to be energetic priests. Bishop Sarto adopted St. Thomas Aquinas’ teaching methodologies and instituted the Gregorian Chant for Mass. He turned a troubled diocese into a vibrant diocese with spirited masses and enlightened preaching.
While Cardinal, Giuseppe continued to encourage education for priests and improved Catholic schools. He also raised money for the sick.
As Pope Pius X he was less formal and more approachable than his predecessors. He invited priests to dinner in the Vatican each evening and often snuck out of the Vatican through the garden passageways to visit the sick in local hospitals. He improved priestly formation, instituted improved liturgies and music and insisted on quality preaching from his priests and bishops. He modernized Canon law and introduced progressive scholarship through the biblical institute of Rome under the direction of the Jesuits.
Pope Pius X also lowered the age for young people to first receive the Eucharist and fought against “modernism,” a theological teaching that he viewed as heresy and atheism. Pius X is often credited with developing the foundations of modern catechism and adult education still held in parishes today.
Rumors of miraculous cures began to spread throughout Rome after people visited him in the last year of his life. Pope Pius X died on August 20, 1914. The Italian press wrote, “Saint is Dead.”
His tombstone is engraved with the words; “Pope Pius X, poor and yet rich, gentle and humble of heart, unconquerable champion of the Catholic Faith, whose constant endeavor it was to renew all things in Christ …”
Saint Pius X, The Farm Boy Who Became Pope, Walter Dietheld, OSB, Ignatius Press, 1994, San Francisco
"The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Pope Pius X devoted his life to the Church: serving the poor, the priests and the spiritual life of the Church. He led a humble life, using his gifts for those he served. He is one of the reasons we should continue affirming the priests and praying for their continued success in their work for the Kingdom of God. Please join in praying slowly and deliberately the Prayer for Priests, remembering that we are praying to Almighty God to look at His priests through the Face of Christ. The purpose of PAPA is about prayer and to promote others to pray that the representatives or heads of the Church be the Face of Christ.
God bless you
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