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"This hour of splendid triumph—as God, Who lifts up the lowly has arranged and as it were hastened in order to set His seal on the marvelous elevation of His faithful servant Pius X, to the supreme glory of the altars . . ." With these words Pope Pius XII solemnly proclaimed Blessed Pius X as the 4,374th saint of the Catholic Church, on May 29, 1954. The following morning the pontifical canonization Mass was said by Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals and presided over by Pope Pius XII. Before the main altar a special platform held the remains of the newly pronounced saint in a glass and gold casket throughout the ceremonies. In a prominent place the relatives of the first Pope to be canonized in 242 years heard the Mass marking the elevation of Pius X to sainthood. An important place also was given to the two people whose miraculous cures through the intercession of Blessed Pius X made the canonization possible, Sister Maria Luisa Scorcia of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Neapolitan lawyer, Francesco Belsani. When the Mass was concluded, Pius XII was carried out of the basilica among the crowd of over half a million who were assembled in the Square. He constantly gave them his blessing and then appeared on the balcony where the crowds were better able to see him. That afternoon the remains of St. Pius X were placed on an elegant old Berlin carriage drawn by six white horses. The long procession in honor of the newly proclaimed saint escorted the carriage across the city of Rome to the basilica of St. Mary Major, where the casket was exposed to the faithful. We already have noted the reasons for the Beatification of Pius X, but what is canonization? Canonization Is the next and supreme step in pronouncing a person to be in Heaven. All that is necessary to make the step from Beatification where the person is bestowed with the title of "Blessed" and Canonization where he is conferred with the title of "Saint" are two miracles. These miracles must occur after the beatification. They then are submitted to a vote of the Sacred College of Cardinals and certain other prelates in a semi-public consistory. Canonization places the final seal of approval of the Church on the asserted sanctity of a person. While beatification only permitted veneration of Pius X on a very limited scale, his canonization declared he actually is in heaven and the faithful are ordered to venerate him throughout the entire Catholic Church. Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 182 - 184 Date Issued - 29 May 1954 Face Value - 10 l, 25 l, 35 l Perforations - 13 Printer - The Italian State Printing Works |
