St Pope Pius X was born Joseph Sarto near Treviso, in the region of Venice in 1835. His family upbringing was humble and poor. He was the second eldest of ten children. He entered the seminary at Padua in 1850 and ordained a priest in 1858. He worked pastorally in various parishes with great zeal and became chancellor of the Diocese of Treviso in 1875.
In 1884 he was consecrated Bishop of Mantua and revived its pastoral and spiritual life leading him to become Cardinal Patriarch of Venice in 1892. After the death of Pope Leo XIII, he was elected Pope in 1903 at the age of 68 and took the name Pius X and the motto “To restore all things in Christ”.
He was a Pope of deep holiness and humility, simplicity and gentleness. He never forgot his humble beginnings and said “I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I want to die poor”.
In 1905, France renounced its agreement with the Holly See and threatened to confiscate the property of the Church, if the French state was not given control over Church affairs. He courageously rejected this demand which threatened Church independence and was prepared to accept the financial implications for the Church in France. He was also opposed to Modernism in Theology and encouraged frequent reception of the Eucharist and reduced the age for children to receive the Eucharist. He said “Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven”
He died a few weeks after the beginning of World War 1 and was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1954.
Pius X Prayer to Our Lady
Most holy Virgin, who pleased our Lord and became his mother, Virgin Immaculate in your body and soul, in your faith and love, at this solemn jubilee of the promulgation of the dogma which proclaimed you to the entire world as conceived without sin, look kindly on us unfortunate ones who implore your powerful protection. The infernal serpent, upon whom the primeval curse was laid, continues, alas, to attack and tempt the hapless children of Eve. Ah! Do you, our blessed Mother, our Queen and Advocate, who at the first moment of your conception did crush the enemy’s head, do you gather together our prayers and we beseech you our hearts one with your present them before God’s throne, that we may never allow ourselves to be caught in the snares laid for us, but that we may reach the portal of salvation, and that the Church and Christian society may once more chant the hymn of deliverance, of victory and of peace. Amen.
Pius X Prayer to St Joseph
Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labour, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins, to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations, to gratefully and joyously deem it an honour to employ and to develop by labour the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work; above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render of time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph. This shall be my motto for life and eternity. Amen.
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