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 Saint Pius X Centenary of Death Scott 1572 (2014) The future Pope Pius X, Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was born on June 2, 1835, in Riese (then in the Austrian Kingdom of Venetia), ‘of a poor family’ and 'the son of the village postman’ (David Farmer). He was the second born of ten children. Sarto walked 3.75 miles (6.04km) one-way to school at Castelfranco daily. At an early age, he studied Latin with the village priest. His Catholic Encyclopedia biography records that he received a scholarship from the bishop of Treviso and attended seminary at Padua where he graduated with distinction and was ordained a priest in 1858. He steadily advanced in clerical responsibilities in the Diocese of Treviso from parish chaplain (at ordination he was a year short of the minimum age) to the parish priest, archpriest of Salzano, a canon of the Treviso Cathedral, seminary rector, and vicar-general. In 1884, Sarto was appointed Bishop of Mantua (then a ‘troublesome see’), where he concentrated on the formation of clergy. Sarto also taught dogmatic theology and promoted the study of Thomism (St. Thomas Aquinas) and Gregorian Chant. In doing so he acted similarly to Pope Leo XIII (pontiff from 1878 to 1903), who was also a seminary rector and examiner prior to becoming pope. As a pastor and bishop, Sarto had demonstrated a zeal for the Blessed Mother, seminary education, and confession. In 1893 he was appointed Patriarch of Venice. However, he waited 18 months to take possession of the See because the Italian government insisted that it had assumed the authority to nominate the patriarch because that right was formerly exercised by the Austrian emperor. In 1903, he was elected Successor to St. Peter, following the death of Leo XIII. Donald Attwater states by the time of his election, he had spent 45 years in parish and diocesan work. His motto was ‘To restore all things in Christ,’ (from Ephesians 1: 10). David Farmer states, “In contrast to some of his predecessors, he was both a peasant and a pastoral pope." His pontificate spanned eleven years, from 1903 to 1914. Pope Pius X was beatified in 1951 and canonized in 1954, in both cases by Pope Pius XII. 
 Beatification of Pope Pius X Scott 145-148 (1951) 
 Canonization of Pope Pius X Scott 182-184 (1954) The stamps below, issued in 1960, memorialize the famous transfer of the mortal remains of Pope Pius X to Venice in 1959. This event was repeated in 2023, when the relics of St. Pius X returned to the Patriarchate of Venice for a pilgrimage through the towns of Treviso, Padua and Riese to celebrate the 120th anniversary of his election as pope. The event once again fulfilled the promise made by Cardinal Sarto when he left for the papal conclave of 1903: "Alive or dead, I will return to Venice." 
 Tranfer of Relics of Pope Pius X to Venice Scott 282-284 (1960) REFERENCES: |
