August 21: St Pius X, Pope
Glorious Pontiff, Saint Pius, devoted servant of our Lord and loving child of Mary, I invoke you as a Saint in Heaven.
I give myself to you that you may always be my father, My protector, and my guide in the way of holiness and salvation.
Aid me in observing the duties of my state of life. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent Love of the interior life after your own example.
Pope of the Blessed Sacrament, teach me to love Holy Mass And Holy Communion as the source of all grace and holiness, And to receive this Sacrament as often as I can.
Gentle father of the poor, help me to imitate your charity Toward my fellow men in word and deed. Consoler of the suffering, help me to bear my daily cross patiently And with perfect resignation to the will of God.
Loving Shepherd of the flock of Christ, obtain for me the grace Of being a true child of Holy Mother Church.
Saint Pius, beloved Holy Father, I humbly implore your powerful Intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the Graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I recommend to you in particular this favour ………………….(mention your request).
Great Pontiff, whom Holy Mother Church has raised to the honour Of our altars and urged me to invoke and imitate as a Saint, I have great confidence in your prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God’s holy will, My petition will be granted through your intercession for Me at the throne of God.
Saint Pius, pray for me and for those, I love. I beg of you by your love Jesus and Mary, do not abandon us in our needs. May we experience the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.
SAINT PIUS X
On June 2, 1835, Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto saw the light of earth at Riesi, Province of Treviso, in Venice; on August 20, 1914, he saw the light of heaven; and on May 29, 1954, he who had become the two hundred fifty-ninth pope was canonized St. Pius X.
Two of the most outstanding accomplishments of this saintly Pope were the inauguration of the liturgical renewal and the restoration of frequent communion from childhood. He also waged an unwavering war against the heresy and evils of Modernism, gave great impetus to biblical studies, and brought about the codification of Canon Law. His overriding concern was to renew all things in Christ.
Above all, his holiness shone forth conspicuously. From St. Pius X we learn again that “the folly of the Cross”, simplicity of life, and humility of heart are still the highest wisdom and the indispensable conditions of a perfect Christian life, for they are the very source of all apostolic fruitfulness.
His last will and testament bears the striking sentence: “I was born poor, I have lived in poverty, and I wish to die poor.” His feast day is August 21.
