Saint Pius X, Saint of the day for 21 August

(June 2, 1835 - August 20, 1914)

The story of Saint Pius X.
Pope Pius X is perhaps best remembered for his encouragement to the frequent reception of Holy Communion, especially by children.

The second of 10 children of a poor Italian family, Joseph Sarto became Pius X at the age of 68. He was one of the greatest popes of the twentieth century.

Always mindful of his humble origin, Pope Pius affirmed: "I was born poor, I lived poor, I will die poor". He was embarrassed by some of the glories of the papal court. “Look how they dressed me,” she tearfully told an old friend. To another: “It is a penance to be forced to accept all these practices. They took me around surrounded by soldiers like Jesus when he was captured in Gethsemane “.

Interested in politics, Pope Pius encouraged Italian Catholics to become more politically involved. One of his first papal acts was to end the alleged right of governments to interfere with the veto in papal elections, a practice that reduced the freedom of the 1903 conclave that elected him.

In 1905, when France renounced its agreement with the Holy See and threatened the confiscation of Church property if government control of Church affairs was not granted, Pius X bravely rejected the request.

Although he did not write a famous social encyclical as his predecessor did, he denounced the mistreatment of indigenous peoples on plantations in Peru, sent a relief commission to Messina after an earthquake, and protected refugees at his own expense.

On the eleventh anniversary of his election as pope, Europe plunged into World War I. Pio had foreseen it, but killed him. “This is the last affliction the Lord will visit on me. I would gladly give my life to save my poor children from this horrible scourge “. He died a few weeks after the war began and was canonized in 1954.

Reflection
His humble past was no obstacle to relating to a personal God and to the people he truly loved. Pius X obtained his strength, his kindness and his warmth for people from the source of all gifts, the Spirit of Jesus. On the contrary, we often feel embarrassed by our background. Shame makes us prefer to stay aloof from the people we perceive as superior. If we are in a superior position, on the other hand, we often ignore the simpler people. Yet we too must help “restore all things in Christ,” especially the wounded people of God.