St. Pius V

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Pius V. St. Pius was the Pope during the years 1566-1572. During St. Pius’ life he was one of the most important leaders during the Catholic Reformation.

St. Pius was given the name Antonio Ghislieri when he was born in Bosco, Italy, and he was born in to a very poor family. St. Pius worked as a shepherd until he was around the age of fourteen. After St. Pius stopped working as a shepherd he decided to join the Dominicans, and he was ordained during the year 1528.

After St. Pius was ordained he was known as Brother Michele, and he decided to study in Bologna and in Genoa. St. Pius later decided to teach theology and philosophy for around sixteen years before he was able to hold the posts as a master of novices and prior for many different Dominican houses.

St. Pius was later named as inquisitor for Como and Bergamo, and during this time he remained humble. St. Pius was very successful in the fulfillment of his office that during the year 1551, and at the command of Cardinal Carafa, he was named by Pope Julius III the commissary general of the Inquisition.

During the year 1555, Cardinal Carafa was elected Pope Paul IV and he was responsible for St. Pius’ quick rise as a bishop of Nepi and Sutri during the year 1556. St. Pius later became a cardinal during the year 1557, and he later became a grand inquisitor during the year 1558.

While out of favor for a while, when under Pope Pius IV who disliked his reputation for excessive zeal, St. Pius V was later unanimously elected as the pope in succession to Pope Pius IV on January 7, 1566. When St. Pius V was Pope he saw his main objective which was to carry on a massive program of reform for the Church, to be more exact the full implementation of the decrees of the Council of Trent.

St. Pius later published the Roman Catechism, the revised Roman Breviary, and also the Roman Missal. St. Pius is also responsible for declaring St. Thomas Aquinas as a Doctor of the Catholic Church. St. Pius commanded a new edition of the works of St. Thomas Aquinas, and created a commission to revise the Vulgate.

The decrees of Trent were later published and spread throughout every Catholic territory, which included Europe, Asia, Africa, and the New World. The pontiff also insisted on their strict adherence. During the year 1571, St. Pius created the Congregation of the Index which was meant to help give strength to the Church's resistance against all the Protestant and heretical writings, and he used the Inquisition to prevent any possible Protestant ideas from gaining any recognition in Italy.

While dealing from the threat of the Ottoman Turks who were trying to advance steadily across the Mediterranean. St. Pius organized a formidable alliance between Venice and Spain, which occurred in the Battle of Lepanto, which led to a complete and shattering triumph over the Turks.

During the day when the victory was declared it was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Victory in recognition of Our Lady's intercession and response to the saying of the Rosary which occurred over majority of Catholic Europe.

St. Pius also ignited the reforms of the Church due to example. St. Pius insisted that he would wear his coarse Dominican robes, beneath the beautiful vestments that were worn by the popes, and it was wholeheartedly devoted to the religious life.

St. Pius’ reign was blemished only by the continuing oppression that occurred by the Inquisition; the often brutal treatment of the Jews of Rome; and the ill advised decision to excommunicate the Queen of England who was Queen Elizabeth I during that time, which occurred during February 1570. This act was also declared her deposed and which only worsened the plight of English Catholics.

These events were later overshadowed in the view of later generations by St. Pius’ contributions to the Catholic Reformation. Pope Clement later beatified him on May 1, 1672, and he was later canonized by Pope Clement XI on May 22, 1712.

Prayer to St. Pius V:

St. Pius help us to have the strength we need to guide more people to Christ and help us to be a better example of our faith. St. Pius help us to keep ourselves always close to Christ so that we may have his guidance when we need to over come any possible temptations or trials we may encounter during our daily lives.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary Our Mother in Heaven

Amen

St. Pius pray for us

St. Joseph pray for us.

May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.

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Works cited:

Information (read from, not taken):

Catholic Online. “St. Pius V, Pope.” St. Pius V, Pope - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online. Accessed 30 April 2021.

Images:

Pope Pius V. April 30, 2021.

st. pius v - Google Search.