Pope Pius X

Canonization

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Although Pius X's elevation to sainthood took place in 1954, the events leading up to it began immediately with his death. A letter of 24 September 1916 by Monsignor Leo, Bishop of Nicotera and Tropea, referred to Pius X as "a great saint and a great Pope." To accommodate the large number of pilgrims seeking access to his tomb, in excess of what the crypt would hold, "a small metal cross was set into the floor of the basilica," which read Pius Papa X, "so that the faithful might kneel down directly above the tomb" http://www.sspx.ca/Angelus/2004_April/Canonization_PiusX.htm. Masses were held near his tomb until 1930.

Related Topics:
Sainthood - 1954 - 24 September - 1916 - Pilgrim - 1930

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Devotion to Pius X between the two world wars remained high. On 14 February 1923, in honor of the 20th anniversary of his accession to the papacy, the first moves toward his canonization began with the formal appointment of those who would carry out his cause. The event was marked by the erecting of a monument in his memory in St. Peter's Basilica. On 19 August 1939, Pius XII delivered a tribute to Pius X at Castel Gandolfo. On 12 February 1943, a further development of Pius X's cause was declared.

Related Topics:
World war - 14 February - 1923 - Canonization - St. Peter's Basilica - 19 August - 1939 - Pius XII - Castel Gandolfo - 12 February - 1943

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On 19 May 1944, Pope Pius X's coffin was exhumed and was taken to the Chapel of the Holy Crucifix in St. Peter's Basilica for the canonical examination. Upon opening the coffin, the examiners found the body of Pius X completely preserved, despite the fact that he had died 30 years before and was not embalmed. According to accounts, "no part of the skeleton was uncovered, no bones were exposed" and that "all of the body" of Pius X "was in an excellent state of conservation" http://www.sspx.ca/Angelus/2004_April/Canonization_PiusX.htm. After the examination and the end of the apostolic process towards Pius X's cause, Pope Pius XII bestowed the title of Venerable Servant of God upon Pius X. His body was exposed for 45 days, before being placed back in his tomb.

Related Topics:
19 May - 1944 - Venerable

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Following this, the process towards beatification began, and thus investigations by the Sacred Congregation of Rites (S.C.R.) into miracles performed by intercessory work of Pius X subsequently took place. The S.C.R. would eventually recognize two miracles. The first involved Sr. Marie-Frangoise Deperras, a nun who had bone cancer and was cured on 7 December 1928 during a novena in which a relic of Pius X was placed on her chest. The second involved Sr. Benedetta De Maria, who had cancer, and in a novena started in 1938, she eventually touched a relic and was immediately cured.

Related Topics:
Beatification - Sacred Congregation of Rites - Miracle - Sr. Marie-Frangoise Deperras - Bone cancer - 7 December - 1928 - Novena - Sr. Benedetta De Maria - Cancer - 1938

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Pope Pius XII officially approved the two miracles on 11 February 1951; and on 4 March, Pius XII, in his De Tuto, declared that the Church could proceed in the beatification of the Venerable Pope Pius X. His beatification took place on 3 June 1951 at St. Peter's before 23 cardinals, hundreds of bishops and archbishops, and a crowd of 100,000 faithful. During his beatification decree, Pius XII referred to Pius X as "Pope of the Eucharist", in honor of Pius X's expansion of the rite to children. The Blessed Pius X's feast day was established as 3 September.

Related Topics:
Pope Pius XII - 11 February - 1951 - 4 March - 3 June - 3 September

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Following his beatification, on 17 February 1952, Pius X's body was transferred from its tomb to the Vatican basilica and placed under the altar of the chapel of the Presentation. As it was in 1944, Pius X's body was not "corrupted" by decay, a condition that remains true even to this day. The Pontiff's body lies within a glass and bronze-work sarcophagus for the faithful to see.

Related Topics:
17 February - 1952

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On 29 May 1954, less than three years after his beatification, Pope Pius X was canonized, following the S.C.R.'s recognition of two more miracles. The first involved Francesco Belsami, an attorney from Naples who had a fatal pulmonary abscess, who was cured upon placing a picture of the Blessed Pope Pius X upon his chest. The second miracle involved Sister Maria Ludovica Scorcia, a nun who was afflicted with a serious neurotropic virus, and who, upon several novenas, was entirely cured. The Canonization mass was presided over by Pope Pius XII at Saint Peter's Basillica before a crowd of about 800,000 of the faithful and church officials at St. Peter's Basilica. Pius X became the first Pope to be canonized since the 17th century.

Related Topics:
29 May - 1954 - Francesco Belsami - Naples - Pulmonary abscess - Maria Ludovica Scorcia - Neurotropic virus - 17th century

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Prayer cards often depict the sanctified Pontiff with instruments of communion. This can be seen in the Prayer to Saint Pius X.

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In addition to being celebrated as the "Pope of the Blessed Sacrament," St. Pius X is also the patron saint of the emigrant from Treviso, and of Esperantists. He is honored at numerous parishes in Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Canada.

Related Topics:
Esperantists - Germany - Belgium - Canada

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St. Pius X's feast day was changed from 3 September to 21 August on 14 February 1969 by Pope Paul VI as an obligatory memorial to the sanctity of Pius X in the universal calendar.

Related Topics:
3 September - 21 August - 14 February - 1969 - Pope Paul VI

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