St. Pius X

Their story

Giuseppe Sarto was born in 1835 in Riese, a village in northern Italy. His father was the village postman, and the family was poor. With help from his parish priest he went to the seminary, and he was ordained in 1858. For years he served as a parish priest, teaching catechism to children and adults, visiting the sick and living simply. He then served as a seminary director, bishop of Mantua and patriarch of Venice, always remaining a pastor at heart. In 1903 he was elected pope and took the name Pius X. His motto was "to restore all things in Christ." He is best remembered for his love of the Eucharist. At that time most Catholics received Communion only rarely, and children usually waited until they were twelve or older. Pius X encouraged frequent Communion and lowered the age for First Communion to about seven, the age of reason, so that children could receive Jesus as soon as they understood. He also promoted the teaching of catechism, reformed Church music and began the work of organizing the Church's laws. Pius X remained humble and poor, and he was known for his kindness. He grieved deeply when the First World War broke out in the summer of 1914, and he died a few weeks later, on August 20, 1914. He was canonized in 1954.