Pope Saint Pius X

Description

p. 111 (PDF p. 117):

Cardinal Sarto’s last battle in Venice was against divorce. At the end of 1901 a draft law for the authorization of divorce was put before parliament. Cardinal Sarto opposed it with determination. In January 1902, on his initiative, all the bishops of Venetia signed an open letter to the Italian members of parliament, urging rejection of the draft law on divorce. Identical action was taken by the bishops of other regions.

This is probably the basis for the scene @38:47 of Gli uomini non guardano il cielo / The Secret Conclave (1952) where the Patriarch of Venice (1893-1904) visits the contessa of Count Filippo Grimani (r. 1895-1919), "sindaco d'oro [golden mayor]" (p. 109, PDF p. 115), who supposedly was contemplating divorce, and encourages here to embrace her cross and set a good example for her subjects.

Saint Pius X: Restorer of the Church. **Saint Pius X is the

first pope in modern history to be canonized since Saint Pius V in 1712. The Church canonized him because of the heroic virtues he practiced in his private life and also in the performance of his ecclesiastical duties: Assistant Priest, Pastor, Canon, Episcopal Chancellor, seminary spiritual director, Bishop, Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, and Pope from 1903 to 1914.

Yves Chiron’s fresh biography breaks new ground by establishing an exact, fair portrait of Saint Pius X, who is often portrayed as a pious pope of great Faith, but “retrograde, simplistic and close minded to modern aspirations and new ideas.” The work accomplished by Saint Pius X was monumental. He was not a pietistic simpleton, but a powerful and brilliant defender of the True Faith in the face of the Modernism that was invading the Church even in those days—the beginnings of the Liberalism that resurfaced at Vatican II. Mr. Chiron demonstrates that he was a tireless defender of the rights of the Church against secularism. He was a great reforming pope; restoring Gregorian chant as the sacred music of the Church; reforming the Curia; initiating the codification of Canon Law, and devoting himself especially to reforming the seminaries in order to form pious, zealous young priests, on guard against the creeping infection of Modernism.

In researching this book, Yves Chiron draws from many sources, especially from Italy, where this great man, so beloved by his countrymen, rose from being a poor country farm boy to being the Vicar of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The author was also able to research the Secret Vatican Archives.

There is no better “rags-to-riches” story, for he came from a poor but hardworking family and rose to the heights of spiritual riches. This book not only relates the historical events of the Pope’s life but offers many personal stories that are like windows into his soul and clearly show his saintly personality. 24 pp. of illustrations.**