First Pope of the Twentieth Century: Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope (1 Thessalonians 2:2b-8; Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 21-22, 25 and 27; John 21:15-17)

Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto was born on June 2, 1835, in the small town of Riese, which was part of the Kingdom of Lombardy within the Austrian Empire. He was the second of ten children in a poor but deeply faithful family.

Although money was scarce, his parents placed a high value on education.  Young Giuseppe walked nearly four miles to school every day. For the record, I have never read anything that commented on whether the walk was uphill both ways or exactly how much snow may or may not have been involved in the walk.

Whatever the conditions, Giuseppe proved to be an exceptional student. He was known for his discipline, always finishing his schoolwork before making time for sports or recreation. Even after an evening spent playing with friends, he would pause for ten minutes of prayer before returning home.

Ordained a priest in 1858, Father Giuseppe immersed himself in the study of theology, particularly the works of Saint Thomas Aquinas and canon law. He continually refined his preaching, and his reputation for holiness spread quickly. Parishioners affectionately began calling him “Don Sarto,” with “Don” deriving from the Latin dominus, meaning “master” or “lord,” a title of respect for clergy.

In 1867 he was appointed archpriest, and in 1884 he was consecrated a bishop. Throughout his ministry, he remained committed to making religious education accessible, especially for children in both rural villages and growing cities who were unable to attend Catholic schools.

In 1893, he was made a cardinal. Rather than seeking political influence, Cardinal Giuseppe devoted himself to charitable works and strengthening financial systems within the Church.

At the same time, he spoke with unmistakable clarity on matters of faith and obedience. In his first pastoral letter to the people of Venice, he wrote that in matters concerning the Pope, "There should be no questions, no subtleties, no opposing of personal rights to his rights, but only obedience."

Following the death of Pope Leo XIII in 1903, the conclave elected Cardinal Giuseppe as the Bishop of Rome after five ballots. Accepting the call with humility, he chose the name Pope Pius X.

The pontificate of Pius X became one of the most influential of the twentieth century. He championed traditional Catholic theology, reformed the liturgy, modernized canon law, and fought vigorously against theological modernism. His papal motto, Instaurare Omnia in Christo—”To restore all things in Christ”—captured the mission of his papacy. As he himself declared, “We champion the authority of God. His authority and Commandments should be recognized, deferred to, and respected.”

His influence was felt around the world, including in the United States. During his pontificate, the Church in America was considered mature enough to be removed from missionary status. He established fifteen new dioceses across the country and elevated two American bishops to the College of Cardinals.

Pope Pius X's health began to fail after suffering a heart attack in 1913, followed by a serious illness in 1914. As Europe descended into the First World War, he is reported to have said, "Now I begin to think the end is approaching. The Almighty in His inexhaustible goodness wishes to spare me the horrors which Europe is undergoing." On August 20, 1914, with his sister Anna praying at his bedside, Pope Pius X died. His final earthly act was to kiss the small crucifix he held in his hands.

Pius X was laid to rest in a simple tomb beneath Saint Peter's Basilica. During the beatification process in 1944, his body was exhumed and found to be miraculously incorrupt. He was beatified in 1951 and, less than three years later, canonized a saint in May 1954. Today, pilgrims may venerate his incorrupt body beneath the altar of the Chapel of the Presentation in Saint Peter's Basilica.

More than a century after his death, Pope St. Pius X continues to inspire Catholics throughout the world. His enduring reforms in the liturgy, the sacraments, and canon law, together with his unwavering defense of the faith, have left a legacy that continues to shape the life of the Church today.

As we hold fast to the tradition of the Church, for ever we will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

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The Two Crowns: Memorial of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr (Wisdom 3:1-9; Psalm 116:10-11, 12-13, 16ac-17; John 15:12-16)

Born on January 8, 1894, in the Kingdom of Poland, then under the Russian Empire, Raymund Kolbe seemed like an ordinary boy. As an ornery 12-year-old, his mother once asked him what would ever become of him.

Kolbe later recalled:  “That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.”

The following year, Raymund and his older brother, Francis, entered the Conventual Franciscan Order. In 1910, after beginning his novitiate, Raymund received the religious name Maximilian, and in 1911 he professed his first vows.

While studying in Rome, Maximilian witnessed aggressive and violent demonstrations by Freemasons directed against the Pope and the Catholic Church. Deeply disturbed, he founded the “Militia Immaculatae” in 1917. Its mission was simple yet profound: to lead souls to Jesus through total consecration to Mary and to pray for the conversion of sinners and those opposed to the Church, especially Freemasons.

Ordained a priest in 1918, Father Maximilian dedicated himself to spreading this mission. He launched a monthly publication, “Knight of the Immaculate”, established a major Catholic publishing apostolate, and founded monasteries in Poland, Japan, and India. 

When World War II erupted and Germany invaded Poland, Father Maximilian chose to remain at his monastery while many others fled. He transformed the monastery into a refuge, opening a temporary hospital and caring for those displaced by the war. Although he was briefly imprisoned after the town was captured, he was released three months later.

As Nazi persecution intensified, Father Maximilian continued to live the Gospel with remarkable courage. He sheltered approximately 2,000 Jewish refugees from German persecution and published writings that condemned Nazi ideology. His charity and bold witness eventually drew the attention of the Gestapo. On February 17, 1941, the monastery was closed, and Father Maximilian was arrested. After a brief imprisonment at Pawiak Prison, he was transferred to Auschwitz.

Even amid the horrors of Auschwitz, Father Maximilian never abandoned his identity as a priest. He endured relentless abuse while ministering quietly to fellow prisoners, offering prayers, encouragement, and hope in a place consumed by despair.

Then came the defining moment of his life.

After a prisoner escaped, the camp authorities selected ten men to die by starvation as punishment. Maximilian was not among those chosen. But when one condemned prisoner cried out, "My poor wife and my poor children!" Father Maximilian stepped forward.

Driven by extraordinary charity, he approached the commandant and said, "I want to die in his place."

It was astonishing that the commandant did not execute him immediately. Instead, he sneered, "Who are you?"

Father Maximilian calmly replied, "I am a Catholic priest."

His request was granted.

Inside the starvation bunker, Father Maximilian transformed a place of death into a place of prayer. He led hymns and prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, strengthening the other prisoners and helping them face death with peace. One by one the others died, yet after two weeks without food or water, Father Maximilian remained alive. Finally, on August 14, 1941, the guards ended his life with a lethal injection of carbolic acid. Witnesses recounted that he peacefully raised his left arm and accepted death with complete surrender to God's will.

Today, the ”Militia Immaculatae” continues the mission of Father Maximilian, inspiring countless Catholics through his profound devotion to Mary and his unwavering commitment to evangelization.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe's life stands as one of the greatest modern examples of our Gospel reading—an example of sacrificial love—a man who accepted both the white crown of purity and the red crown of martyrdom exactly as he had promised Our Lady as a child.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe wrote:  “You are an instrument in Her hand; therefore do only what She wants. Accept everything like a child with his own mother. Trust Her in everything. Take an interest in Her, in Her veneration, in Her things, and let Her take care of you and your loved ones. Recognize that everything you have comes from Her and nothing from you. All the fruits of your activities depend on union with Her, just as She is an instrument of the Divine Mercy. O Immaculate, my life (every moment of it), my death (where, when, and how), and my eternity belong totally to You. Of everything, do whatever You like.”

Through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.

Thanks be to God!

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Our Perspective or God’s Perspective: Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Ezekiel 12:1-12; Psalm 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62; Matthew 18:21–19:1)

The Prophet Ezekiel reminds us today that we often cannot see and hear the Truth even though we have eyes and ears.  We tend to want to look at things through the perspective of the world, or perhaps through the perspective of our own pride, as opposed to looking at things through the perspective of God.  We tend to fall into the secular worldview as opposed to staying steadfastly in the sacramental worldview.

In his monthly challenge, Archbishop Lori urges us to pursue the mind of God.  He said, “God is beyond human understanding, yet he has revealed himself to us most perfectly in the person of Jesus Christ. Through prayer we can come to know God more fully, and we grow in understanding of his plan when we make a habit of conforming our will to his holy will. We follow Christ in discipleship when we pray daily to the Father as he did: ‘Not my will but yours be done’”.

Today is also the feast day of Blessed Michael McGivney.  Archbishop Lori invites us to study the Blessed Michael McGivney Cor Session Guide, noting in particular how Father McGivney always sought to align his will with that of God.

Archbishop follows that invitation with these questions: How can you strive to better understand things from God’s perspective? How can you discern when your thoughts are merely human thoughts and not of God? What virtues of Blessed Michael McGivney can you imitate in order to submit yourself more fully to God’s holy will?

Our Gospel reading calls Christians to live lives marked by forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, and faithful love. Blessed Michael McGivney lived these teachings in concrete ways:

He forgave and welcomed sinners.

He showed mercy through pastoral care.

He promoted reconciliation with God through confession.

He protected the dignity of marriage and family.

He founded an organization built on charity, unity, fraternity, and faith.

Blessed Michael McGivney serves as an example of someone who not only preached Christ's teachings but organized an entire movement to put them into practice.  He submitted himself to the holy will of God.  He truly embraced and lived out the sacramental worldview.  He lived an authentic Christian life.

We are called to do the same as we do not forget the works of the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

Prophetic Judgement and Divine Mercy: Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7; Deuteronomy 32:35cd-36ab, 39abcd, 41; Matthew 16:24-28)

Our first reading gives us our brief encounter with the prophet Nahum. We know very little about Nahum the Elkoshite beyond the fact that he was a minor prophet in seventh-century BC.

Nahum lived during a time where the northern kingdom had already been destroyed by the Assyrian Empire. The ten northern tribes had been scattered and their land occupied.  Meanwhile, Judah continued to survive, but was forced to pay tribute to the Empire.

Through Nahum, God declared that Nineveh—the proud capital of Assyria—would fall before "the one who scatters." History confirms this prophecy. A coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians swept through Nineveh, bringing the mighty Assyrian Empire to a decisive end.

Nahum's prophecy is, in many ways, the final chapter of a story that began with Jonah. Around 760 BC, God sent Jonah to Nineveh with a warning of imminent destruction. The people repented, and God, rich in mercy, relented. Judgment was delayed because repentance was genuine.

But repentance that does not persevere eventually gives way to judgement.

Within 150 years, Nineveh had returned to its violence, pride, and wickedness. The mercy they had once received was presumed upon rather than embraced. Now Nahum announces that the judgment once withheld would finally come. God's patience had not failed—but it had reached its appointed end.

I believe there are parallels to our saint today, Pope Saint Sixtus II and his companions.  The Roman Empire was called to repentance.  Instead of embracing that repentance and mercy, they chose wickedness.  The people of God were put to death.  History tells us of the decisive end of the Roman Empire.

This pattern reminds me of the message of Our Lady of La Salette. In September 1846, the Blessed Virgin appeared to two shepherd children in the French Alps. She wept over the spiritual decline of her people, lamenting widespread neglect of Sunday Mass and the profanation of God's holy name. Her message was not one of despair but of urgent hope: pray, do penance, and return to God before greater chastisements come. 

The urgency captured in her sobering words:  "If my people will not obey, I can no longer hold back the hand of my Son."

The same urgency is found in the words Jesus later entrusted to Saint Faustina:  "He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice... Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy."

God delights in mercy. Yet Scripture consistently teaches that mercy presumed upon or otherwise rejected eventually gives way to judgment. Divine patience is immense, but it is not infinite.

The errors foretold at Fatima continue to spread throughout the world.  These errors include atheism, democratic socialism, radical secularism and other movements that reject God, reject natural law, and reject the Catholic Church.  As these errors continue to spread, the warnings of Scripture and the Blessed Mother become increasingly difficult to ignore.

Brothers and sisters, this is no time for complacency.

This is no time to compromise with the spirit of the age or to reshape the Gospel according to the values of the culture. This is the time to return wholeheartedly to Christ. We must renew our consecration to Him, cling faithfully to His Church, embrace the sacramental life with greater fervor, and conform ourselves to His truth rather than what society wants us to believe.

In many respects, we are living in the moment of Nahum. The same God who showed mercy to Nineveh also judged Nineveh. The same Lord who opens wide the door of mercy also speaks of the coming day of justice.

Through the Catholic Church, the vine of Jacob has been restored. Through the Catholic Church, the Body of Christ has become the pride of Israel. Through the Catholic Church, the door of Divine Mercy remains open.

But that door will not remain open forever.

Today is the day to repent. Today is the day to return to the Lord in the Eucharist. Today is the day to choose mercy before justice is chosen for us.

With both holy fear and enduring hope we hear the Lord say, "It is I who deal death and give life."

Thanks be to God!

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