Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Pius X. Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto was born in Riese, in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, then a part of the Austrian empire but now part of the Italian province of Treviso on 2 June 1835. He was the child of a postman, and grew up in poverty, one of ten children: he had three brothers and six sisters.
At a young age, Giuseppe studied Latin with his village priest. Having completed his secondary studies, he was admitted to the seminary of Padua in 1850 where he completed his studies in preparation for Ordination as a priest of the Diocese of Treviso. He was ordained a priest on 18 September 1858. In the early years of his priesthood, while fulfilling most of the duties of a pastor, he also managed to study Saint Thomas Aquinas and Canon Law. As the years progressed, he continued to be entrusted with further pastoral responsibilities until in 1978, he was appointed as a vicar-capitular with pastoral responsibility for the city of Treviso during a time of vacancy in that diocese until a new Bishop could be appointed. He held this position for two years, after which he returned to the Treviso seminary where he taught dogmatic theology and moral theology for four years.
On 10 November 1884, Pope Leo XIII appointed him as Bishop of Mantua (Italy). Nine years later, during an open consistory held on 12 June 1893, Pope Leo XIII created him a Cardinal and three days later, he was privately named as Patriarch of Venice, but was prevented from assuming that role until the following year. On 20 July 1893, Pope Leo XIII died, and not long afterward, the Conclave to elect a successor was convened. Cardinal Sarto was elected Pontiff on 4 August 1903, taking the name of Pius X.
Even after he had been elected Supreme Pontiff, he never forgot his humble origins: that he - and we - are human beings, not God (cf Ez 28:2, 9). His simple origins became clear right after his election, when he wore a pectoral cross made of gilded metal on the day of his coronation and when his entourage was horrified, the new pope complained that he always wore it and that he had brought no other one with him. He was well known for cutting down on papal ceremonies. The pontificate of Pius X was noted for conservative theology and reforms in the liturgy and in Church law. He worked tirelessly to develop various aspects within the life of the Church.
In 1913, Pius X suffered a heart attack, and subsequently lived in the shadow of poor health. In 1914, the pope fell ill on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary (15 August 1914), an illness from which he would not recover. His condition was worsened by the events leading to the outbreak of World War I (1914–18), which reportedly sent the 79-year-old pope into a state of melancholy. He died on 20 August 1914 of a heart attack, on the very day when German forces marched into Brussels.
Following his death, Pius X was buried in a simple and unadorned tomb in the crypt below Saint Peter's Basilica. Papal physicians had been in the habit of removing organs to aid the embalming process. Pius X expressly prohibited this in his burial and successive popes have continued this tradition. Pope Pius X was beatified on 3 June 1951 and subsequently canonized on 29 May 1954.
Saint Pius X, pray for us, that we may always remain a humble people at the service of our brothers and sisters.
Have a great day.
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