Life
of Saint Pius X (Giuseppe Melchiore Sarto)
by Xavier James L.S.
“I
can do all things through Him who strengthens me”(Phil:4:13)
Introduction
After
the unworthy popes the Church had gone through the dark ages and reformation
and Counter Reformation took place and the Church was concerned about the
people around. Then came the good reign of Pope Leo XIII, who really was in
touch with the world and encouraged the spirituality in action. He was the
first pope to write the Social Encyclical and showed that Catholic Church does
not merely encourage prayer and meditation and several devotions but she is
deeply concerned about her society. In this sensitive background was born a
baby who later became Pope Pius X, who was a humanitarian and understood the
feeling of the ordinary poor people. This is why I personally liked and want to
state the account of his life.
Childhood of Giuseppe
Sarto
was born in 1835 at Riese in upper Venitia as the first son of Giovanni Batista
and Margherita who had seven children. When he was eleven he received the first
Holy Communion and secretly consecrated himself to the Master who had just come
into his heart. He did not tell anyone about this except the Parish Priest Don
Tito who taught him Latin in the presbytery. He was a studious boy and never
failed in any subjects. He underwent lot of struggles to do his schooling and
used to go on foot to the school which was far away from his home.
Giuseppe in the Seminary
In
1850, Giuseppe entered the diocesan seminary of Treviso, thereafter to Padua
where he did his priestly studies. He was a most distinguished student and was
ready to help anyone at any time. But he would get angry very quickly.
Fr. Sarto in Tombolo
He
was ordained deacon on 27th February 1858, thereafter the same year
he was ordained priest on 18th September in the Cathedral of Castel
Franco. The bishop of Treviso nominated Don Giuseppe as the curate of Tombolo
in October 1858, where he had to encounter many illiterate parishioners. The
young curate was full of zeal, good sense and had admirable qualities which
made the people and the curate come closer to each other. He used to take
classes in the night school and taught them to read and write.
Don Sarto in Salzano
Then
he was appointed as the curate of Salzano and where he out of charity helped
his parishioners to bring them to God. He would help them both materially and
spiritually. He used to admire St. Vincent de Paul and would say, “He
understood that God wants us to live not for ourselves but for everyone who
crosses our path”. Don Giuseppe was a man for others.
Fr. Giuseppe in the seminary again
Fr.
Sarto was raised as the cannon of the cathedral and the spiritual guide of the
seminary and the chancellor of the diocese. He was a hard working priest who
started day at 4 am and used to retire to rest at 11.30 pm. He was smiling and
full of good natured with fun and was playful. The seminarians who went to him
for guidance and confession felt that there was a great pleasure and sense of
security in disclosing to this man of God. He was also the administrator of the
diocese and was full of praises but he was humble enough to say, “I am only a
poor country priest who became by the will of God”.
Bishop of Mantua
In
September 1884, Pope Leo XIII made him the bishop of Mantua and he was
consecrated by Cardinal Parocchi on 16th November. Msgr. Sarto had
the praise of the pope saying, “Bishop Sarto is the most lovable of bishops”.
Although he was the bishop his good nature was the same.
Bishop
Sarto was disciplined and courageous who would bring about unity among the
people and the priests. His house was open to the rich and wide open to the
poor. He knew the poverty of his priests and instructed them not to make a
solemn celebration of his visits. He also instructed them to start school so to
educate all the children. He was a bishop who never sought honour, for instance
one day he had gone for a pastoral visit to a parish and he was there in the
confessional even before the parish priest came to the Church. He was a true
shepherd, priest as bishop. He came down to the level of the people and that is
why both the priests and people admire him for his efficiency.
Patriarch of Venice
On
12th June 1893, Bishop Sarto was made Cardinal and on 23rd
of the following May, he was made Patriarch of Venice. He was a man of
transparency, goodness, humility, he was also a good organizer and
administrator. He was a hard working Cardinal with saintly simplicity and
modesty. He was very much liked and loved by ordinary people as well as those
who were in authority. This is explicit in the praise which was attributed to
him by Pope Leo XIII who made him bishop, cardinal and patriarch.
Pope Pius X
Cardinal
Sarto was elected as the successor of Pope Leo XIII, on 4th August
1903 winning 50 votes out of 62. And he was crowned as the Pope of the
Universal Church on 9th Aug. 1903. During his tenure as the Pope he
increased the number of seminaries and developed the education in the seminary
and updated the curriculum in them. He was one of the most constructively
reforming Popes. During his papacy, he worked for reform in the liturgy, the
missal, breviary, Eucharistic chant, codification of the canon law, Catholic
Social Action etc. He was known as the pope of the Eucharist, as he had a deep
relationship with the Eucharist Lord. Due to his relations with the Eucharistic
Lord his decisions were constructive. He often used to say, “I was born poor, I
have lived poor, and I wished to die poor”. Though he was a pope he considered
himself as a poor country priest. He had taken his motto as, “To restore all
things in Christ”. On his tomb the following has been inscribed, “poor yet
rich, meek and humble of heart undaunted champion of the Catholic faith,
zealous to restore all things in Christ”. He died on 20th August
1914 and was beatified on 3rd June 1951 and was made saint on 29th
May 1954 by Pope Pius XII.
Why do I like?
Pius
X worked hard during his life time both in studies as well as all the work
which was assigned to him. I too work hard as to achieve my goal. He was a well
disciplined person but he used to get angry quickly which was his weakness, I
am also aware of my anger and hope to overcome it. He was full of zeal and
enthusiasm and was good pastor and shepherd to his people, I too pray that the
zeal and enthusiasm I have now may sustain me in doing the will of God. As St.
Pius X used his good qualities for the welfare of others so also I would like
to use my qualities and abilities for the benefit of others. I like St. Pius X for
bringing lot of changes in the liturgy and make the liturgy meaningful one.
Conclusion
Finally,
I admire this saintly person who was from a poor family, studious, courageous,
humble and exercised the value of the kingdom of God. I like him because he had
lot of love for the seminarians which was unusual.
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