September 3 - St. Pius X, Pope and Confessor
Regarded as the Pope of the Blessed Sacrament, Giuseppe Sarto was born in 1835 at Riese, Treviso, Venice, Austria (now Italy). The glorious Saint Pius X died in 1914, at the beginning of the First World War after having been Pope for eleven years. He was truly a chosen soul. There has been no more saintly, courageous or beloved saint of modern times than Pope Saint Pius X. He was the vigorous opponent of all the Liberalism that has been trying in modern times to make its way into the Catholic Church, to water down its dogmas and to tie up Catholics with false brotherhoods that have no relationship to Jesus or to the Divine Maternity of Mary. Saint Pius X was the great Pope of daily Communion for all, and of early Communion for children. No political influences could make him alter his assignment as Vicar of Christ on earth and the sole ruler of the world in all things that directly pertain to God. He approached the papacy by every simple step a priest could take. He was the first pope ever to ascend through all the minor and major orders. He had an impoverished childhood as one of eight children of a village cobbler and felt a calling to the priesthood from his youth; studied at Padua, and was known as an exceptional student; was a curate at Tombolo; a parish priest at Salzano; a canon at Treviso, and a spiritual director of the seminary there; he was Bishop of Mantua; Patriarch of Venice; and Pope of Rome. The only credentials he offered for all he did were these: “I am a simple priest.” The holy Pius issued decrees on early (age 7 instead of 12 or 14 as previously) and frequent communion. He destroyed the last vestiges of Jansenism by advocating frequent and even daily communion; reformed the liturgy, promoted clear and simple homilies, and brought Gregorian chant back to services. He revised the Breviary, and the teaching of the Catechism. His greatest battles were in the fight against Modernism, which he denounced as “the summation of all heresies” in his masterful encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis. He reorganized the Roman curia, the administrative elements of the Church, and worked against the modern antagonism of the state against the Church. He initiated the codification of canon law, promoted Bible reading by all the faithful, and supported foreign missions. His will read: “I was born poor; I lived poor; I wish to die poor.”
Mass Propers
St. Pius X, Pope and Confessor
Thursday in the Fourteenth Week after Pentecost
Double/White Vestments
Missa ‘Extuli’
INTROIT: Psalm 88: 20-22
I have raised up a chosen man from my people, with my holy oil I have anointed him so that my hand is always with him and my arm strengthens him.
88: 2
The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
I have raised up…
Extúli eléctum de pópulo, oleo sancto meo unxi eum: ut manus mea sit semper cum eo, et brachium meum confírmet eum.
88: 2
Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo; in generationem et generationem annuntiabo veritatem tuam in ore meo. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
COLLECT
O God, who for the defense of the Catholic Faith and the restoration of all things in Christ didst fill Saint Pius, Supreme Pontiff, with heavenly wisdom and apostolic courage: grant in Thy loving kindness that by following his teachings and examples we may attain eternal rewards. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God…
EPISTLE: 1 Thessalonians 2: 2-8
Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians. Brethren, we had confidence in our God to preach to you the gospel of God amid much anxiety. For our exhortation was not from error, nor from impure motives, nor from guile. But as approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak not as pleasing men, but God, who proves our hearts. For at no time have we used words of flattery, as you know, nor any pretext for avarice, God is witness, nor have we sought glory from men, neither from you nor from others. Although as the apostles of Christ we could have claimed a position of honor among you, still while in your midst we were as children: as if a nurse were cherishing her own children, so we in our love for you would gladly have imparted to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls: because you had become most dear to us.
GRADUAL: Psalm 39: 10-11
I have proclaimed thy justice in the great assembly: lo, I did not restrain my lips; Lord, thou knowest.
I have not hidden thy justice within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy help.
ALLELUIA: Ps: 22: 5-6
Thou preparest a table for me, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup brims over. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL: John 21: 15-17
At that time, At that time Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon, Son of John, dost thou love Me more than these do?” He said to Him, yes, Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee. He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, dost thou love Me?” He said to him, yes, Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee. He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” A third time He said to him, “Simon, son of John, dost thou love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him for the third time, Dost thou love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
OFFERTORY: Psalm 33: 12
Come, children, hearken to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
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| Pope St. Pius X, childhood photo |
SECRET
O Lord, and through the intercession of St. Pius, Supreme Pontiff, grant that we may treat these divine mysteries with unfeigned veneration and ever receive them with heartfelt faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.
PREFACE OF THE APOSTLES
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd; but, through Thy blessed apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dóminations and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
COMMUNION: John 6: 56-57
My Flesh is meat indeed and My Blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood abideth in Me, and I in him.
POSTCOMMUNION
We beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that we who have been replenished with strength at the heavenly table may, by the intercession of Saint Pius, Supreme Pontiff, be also steadfast in the faith and of one mind through love of Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. R. Amen.
