Pope St Pius X, Confessor: Missa “Extuli eléctum”
St Pius X, born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto at Riese in northern Italy in 1835, rose from humble origins to become one of the great reforming pontiffs of the modern age. Ordained priest in 1858, he served successively as parish priest, canon, Bishop of Mantua and Patriarch of Venice before being elected Pope in 1903. He took as the programme of his pontificate the words of St Paul, Instaurare omnia in Christo—“to restore all things in Christ.”
His pontificate was marked above all by a determination to preserve the integrity of the Catholic Faith against the rising errors of Modernism. In the decree Lamentabili and the encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis, he exposed Modernism as a corrosive system which, while retaining Catholic terminology, undermined revelation, dogma and the supernatural character of the Church from within. Yet St Pius was no mere polemicist. His reforms sprang from a profoundly pastoral desire that Christ should reign more completely in souls. He encouraged frequent and even daily Holy Communion, lowered the age of First Communion for children, reformed sacred music and the Roman Breviary, strengthened seminary formation, and began the great work of codifying the Church’s canon law.
Personally simple, prayerful and remarkably accessible despite the dignity of his office, Pius X retained something of the country parish priest even upon the throne of St Peter. His tenderness towards the poor was matched by an uncompromising defence of Catholic truth: for him there could be no genuine pastoral charity divorced from the Faith that saves.
St Pius X died on 20 August 1914, as Europe descended into the catastrophe of the First World War, and was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1954. In the traditional Roman Rite his feast is celebrated on 3 September with the Mass Extuli eléctum, whose Introit fittingly places upon the lips of God the declaration: “I have exalted one chosen out of the people.” Few texts could better describe Giuseppe Sarto: raised from obscurity and poverty to the Chair of Peter, not for worldly splendour, but that he might defend the Faith, restore Christian discipline, and labour for his chosen programme, Instaurare omnia in Christo—“to restore all things in Christ.”
INTROIT Ps 88:20-22
I have raised up the chosen one from the people; with My holy oil I have anointed him, that My hand may be always with him, and that My arm may make him strong. Ps 88:2 The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim Your faithfulness. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. I have raised up the chosen one from the people; with My holy oil I have anointed him, that My hand may be always with him, and that My arm may make him strong.
COLLECT
O God Who, for the defense of the Catholic faith and the restoration of all things in Christ, filled St. Pius, the Supreme Pontiff, with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fearlessness, mercifully grant that, by following his teachings and examples, we may receive Your eternal rewards. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
EPISTLE 1 Thess. 2:2-8
Lesson from the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians: Brethren: We had confidence in our God to preach to you the gospel of God amid much anxiety. For our exhortation was not from error, nor from impure motives, nor from guile; but, as approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak not as pleasing men, but God, Who proves our hearts. For at no time have we used words of flattery, as you know, nor any pretext for avarice, God is witness, nor have we sought glory from men, neither from you nor from others. Although as the apostles of Christ we could have claimed a position of honor among you, still while in your midst we were as children, as if a nurse were cherishing her own children. So, we, in our love for you, would gladly have imparted to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you had become most dear to us.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Ps 39:10-11
I announced Your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips as You, O Lord, know. V. Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; Your faithfulness and Your salvation I have spoken of. Alleluia, alleluia. Ps 22:5-6 V. You spread the table before me; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 21:15-17
At that time, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these do? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs. He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs. And third time He said to him, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him for the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My sheep.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps 33:12
Come, children, hear me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
SECRET
Having graciously accepted our offerings, we beseech You, O Lord, that we may ever treat this divine sacrament with sincere veneration and receive it with faithful heart, through the prayers of St. Pius, Your Supreme Pontiff. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Common
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominions adore it, the Powers are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed Seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do Thou command that it be permitted us to join with them in confessing Thee, while we say with lowly praise: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth!
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Oh my Jesus,
I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love Thee above all things, and I desire Thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though Thou were already there,
I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee.
Permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee. Amen.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 6:56-57
My Flesh is food indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood, abides in Me and I in him.
POSTCOMMUNION
We, who have been filled with strength at the heavenly table, beseech You, O Lord, our God, that by the intercession of St. Pius, Supreme Pontiff, we may be made firm in faith and of one mind in Your love. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Marche de saint Pie X is a devotional and processional hymn honouring Pope St Pius X as shepherd, reformer, defender of the Faith, and heavenly patron. Its eight French stanzas recall the characteristic works of his pontificate: the restoration of the sacred liturgy, reform of seminaries, resistance to doctrinal error, personal poverty, encouragement of frequent and early Holy Communion, and his governing ideal, Instaurare omnia in Christo—“to restore all things in Christ.” The final verses apply his patronage explicitly to the Priestly Fraternity of St Pius X. Each stanza returns to the simple Latin invocation, Sancte Pie Decime, gloriose patrone, ora, ora pro nobis—“Saint Pius the Tenth, glorious Patron, pray, pray for us.” The text is by H. le Roux and Abbé F. le Roux, with music by Abbé M.-A. Moulin.
| Français | English |
|---|---|
| 1. Ô saint Pie X, Pasteur ardent, | 1. O Pius Tenth, our shepherd true, |
| Qui inspirez nos cœurs fervents, | Inflame our hearts with love anew; |
| Rassemblés sous vos étendards, | Beneath your banners gathered here, |
| Nous marchons sous votre regard. | We march beneath your watchful care. |
| En chantant : | Singing: |
| Sancte Pie Decime, gloriose patrone, | Saint Pius the Tenth, glorious Patron, |
| ora, ora pro nobis. | pray, pray for us. |
| 2. Vous restaurez la liturgie | 2. You raised the Liturgy anew, |
| Et lui rendez son harmonie : | And gave her back her harmony; |
| Nos voix s’élèvent, solennelles, | Our solemn voices rise as one, |
| À l’unisson vers l’Éternel. | To praise the everlasting One. |
| Refrain | Refrain |
| Sancte Pie Decime, gloriose patrone, | Saint Pius the Tenth, glorious Patron, |
| ora, ora pro nobis. | pray, pray for us. |
| 3. Pontife saint et visionnaire, | 3. Holy Pontiff, visionary, |
| Vous réformez les séminaires : | You reformed the seminaries; |
| Votre fils, notre fondateur, | Your son, our founder, followed you, |
| Suivra vos pas avec ferveur. | And walked your path with fervent zeal. |
| Refrain | Refrain |
| Sancte Pie Decime, gloriose patrone, | Saint Pius the Tenth, glorious Patron, |
| ora, ora pro nobis. | pray, pray for us. |
| 4. Rempart sacré de la vraie Foi, | 4. Strong bulwark of the one true Faith, |
| L’erreur pâlit à votre voix : | At your strong voice falsehood gave way; |
| Par la clarté de votre chaire, | From Peter’s Chair truth shone forth bright, |
| Nos âmes vivent de lumière. | Our souls were fed with heaven’s light. |
| Refrain | Refrain |
| Sancte Pie Decime, gloriose patrone, | Saint Pius the Tenth, glorious Patron, |
| ora, ora pro nobis. | pray, pray for us. |
| 5. Chef souverain, face aux perfides, | 5. Chief shepherd, facing faithless foes, |
| Avec vous l’Église, intrépide, | With you the Church stands unafraid; |
| Imitant votre pauvreté, | She walks the path of poverty, |
| Triomphe de l’iniquité. | And conquers all iniquity. |
| Refrain | Refrain |
| Sancte Pie Decime, gloriose patrone, | Saint Pius the Tenth, glorious Patron, |
| ora, ora pro nobis. | pray, pray for us. |
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