21 August: Liturgical memorial of Saint Pius X
The Pope of Catechism and of the First Holy Communion of children
Saint Pius X, in the world Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, wrote the following words in his will and testament: “I was born poor, I have lived in poverty, and I wish to die poor”. He was a Pope from a humble social background, who was elected to the See of Peter, after going through all the steps of the ecclesiastical career: Chaplain, Parish Priest, Bishop, Cardinal and Patriarch.
Born in Riese in the Province of Treviso on 2 June 1835, he was the first-born of the 10 children of Giovan Battista Sarto and Margherita Sanson. He felt a vocation to the priesthood, but due to scarce economic resources, his desire remained as such. His dream was fulfilled thanks to Patriarch Jacopo Monico, also from Riese, who gave him a scholarship to the Seminary of Padua. Unfortunately, the early death of his father left the family in poverty and things became complicated. In fact, Giuseppe as head of the family, was responsible for supporting his siblings and his mother Margherita. He never neglected this responsibility over the course of the years and was able to provide them with sustenance. However, we must also consider that it was thanks to his mother’s efforts that he was able to continue his formation at the Seminary. When he had finished his studies, Giuseppe Melchiorre was ordained a priest on 18 September 1858 in the Duomo of Castelfranco Veneto.
His first appointment was as Chaplain in Tombolo, in the Province of Padua, a small country parish. He arrived there on 29 November 1858 and stayed in that position for nine years. In 1867, he achieved the highest score in his exams and was appointed parish priest of Salzano, an important borgo in the Province of Venice, where he remained for some nine years and began to write his Catechism, made of questions and answers, for which he was later known throughout the world. In 1875, he was appointed Canon of the Cathedral of Treviso and Chancellor and then Vicar Capitular. In September 1884, Leo XIII appointed him Bishop of Mantua. At that time, the diocese was in a particularly difficult situation, both within and in its relations with the civil authorities.
The new Bishop, who was known for his oratory skills and his great charity, was able to mediate and appease the different factions, fostering a profound renewal of Christian life. He succeeded in reopening the Seminary, in strengthening worker cooperatives and in dedicating himself to social issues. Thanks to his efforts and his capabilities, the Diocese of Mantua experienced a rebirth. Acknowledging his efforts, on 12 June 1893, Leo XIII created him a Cardinal and on 15 June, he appointed him Patriarch of Venice. However, it was not until 24 November 1894 that he was able to enter the city because the Italian government delayed the necessary approval as the King believed that it was up to him to choose the new Patriarch. The situation was eventually resolved, and throughout his episcopal ministry, he once again proved that he had remarkable skills and resources. During that time, he met Lorenzo Perosi, whom he encouraged to become a priest, and to whom he entrusted the reform of liturgical music. He privileged the poor to whom he gave all his possessions. He did not even want to have new cardinal vestments made, preferring instead to have his sisters readjust the ones of his predecessor. He gave what he would have spent on newly tailored vestments to the poor instead.
Leo XIII passed away on 20 July 1903 and the conclave was called. As he was leaving the train station in Venice, the Patriarch greeted those present with the famous phrase. “Alive or dead, I will return”. On 4 August 1903, he was elected Pope, choosing the name Pius X. During his Pontificate, inspired by his motto, Instaurare omnia in Christo (renewing all things in Christ), he introduced important reforms, such as the restructuring of the Roman Curia and of various Congregations, and the beginning of the Codification of Canon Law, later promulgated Benedit XV. He established new norms for the conclave, removing the interferences of temporal power. He was a Pope who was close to the people, promoting their doctrinal formation also through the Catechism, marked by simple and precise language. His decision to lower the age of Communion to seven, “when a child begins to reason”, was very important for Christian formation. He also carried out the reform of the liturgy and in particular, of scared music, rediscovering Gregorian Chants. He disapproved of modernism, in order to protect the faithful from deceptive concepts.
Unfortunately, at the end of his life, World War 1 broke out when the Austro-Hungarian government declared war on and Serbia on 28 July 1914, one month from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo. On 2 August, he made a heartfelt appeal for peace. He died on the night between 20 and 21 August 1914.
He was considered a “Saintly Pope” in his lifetime and people recounted stories of healings that had taken place simply by touching his garments. He would answer, “My name is Sarto not Santo” (not Saint). He was beatified on 3 June 1951 by Pius XII and canonized by the same Pope on 29 May 1954. His mortal remains are kept in an urn in the Chapel of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, in the Vatican Basilica.
In a preface to the book, Omaggio a Pio X. Ritratti coevi, (paying homage to Pius X. Contemporary Portraits, Edizioni Kappadue, 2023) by Monsignor Lucio Bonora, an official of the Secretariat of State, Pope Francis highlights his closeness to Pius X: “I am very fond of Pius X and I have always loved him. When I was in Buenos Aires on his feast day on 21 August, I would gather catechists from the archdiocese together. My mind turns to the memories of these encounters because I really wanted them and sought them. I enjoyed spending time with those who worked to teach children and adults about the truth of the faith, and Pius X has always been known as the Pope of Catechesis. And not just that. A meek and strong Pope, a humble and clear Pope. A Pope who made the whole Church understand that, without the Eucharist and without the assimilation of the revealed truths, personal faith weakens and dies”.
In the preface, Pope Francis adds, “I love Pius X also for another reason. As Jesuits, we are indebted to Pius X for having facilitated the birth of the Biblical Institute here in Rome, with theological and spiritual fruits that soon spread throughout the Church. Pius X was also the Pope who cried about the world war, of which he is believed to be the first victim, pleading with powerful leaders to lay down their arms. I feel him very close to him in this tragic moment in today’s world”.