(Author unknown, 1905) (link)

Feast Day · August 21

Pius X

Patron ofFirst Communicants, Pilgrims

SituationsDefense of the Faith, First Communion

ProfessionsCatechists, Popes, Seminarians

Why this patronage

Saint Pius X is the patron of first communicants for the gift the faithful most remember him by: his 1910 decree Quam singulari lowered the age of First Communion to the “age of discretion,” about seven, so that children could receive the Eucharist as soon as they could tell the holy Bread from common bread — opening the altar rail to the little ones Christ said should come to Him. “The Pope of the Eucharist,” he also urged all the faithful to frequent and daily Communion. He is invoked as patron of pilgrims partly from his own humble origins and his motto Instaurare omnia in Christo — to restore all things in Christ, the journey of every pilgrim soul.

Life

Saint Pius X, born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto in 1835, served as Pope from 1903 to 1914 under the motto Instaurare omnia in Christo — to restore all things in Christ. He is the great reformer of Catholic liturgical life: his motu proprio Tra le sollecitudini declared Gregorian chant the supreme model of sacred music, he lowered the age of First Communion, and he encouraged the faithful to receive the Eucharist frequently. His encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis mounted a vigorous defense of Catholic doctrine against Modernist errors.

Prayer

Collect for the Feast of Saint Pius X (Collecta in Festo Sancti Pii X)

Deus, qui ad tuéndam cathólicam fidem

O God, who to defend the Catholic faith

Gott, der du den katholischen Glauben zu schützen

Oh Dios, que para defender la fe católica

Ô Dieu, qui pour défendre la foi catholique

et univérsa in Christo instauránda

and to restore all things in Christ,

und alles in Christus zu erneuern

y restaurar todas las cosas en Cristo,

et restaurer toutes choses dans le Christ,

beátum Pium Summum Pontíficem

didst fill the Supreme Pontiff, blessed Pius,

den heiligen Papst Pius

al Sumo Pontífice San Pío

avez rempli le Souverain Pontife saint Pie

caelésti sapiéntia et apostólica fortitúdine replevísti:

with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fortitude:

mit himmlischer Weisheit und apostolischer Tapferkeit erfüllt hast:

llenaste de sabiduría celestial y fortaleza apostólica:

de sagesse céleste et de force apostolique :

concéde propítius;

mercifully grant

gewähre uns gnädig,

concede propicio

accordez-nous dans votre bonté

ut, eius institúta et exémpla sectántes,

that, by following his teachings and example,

dass wir, seinen Weisungen und seinem Beispiel folgend,

que, siguiendo sus enseñanzas y ejemplo,

que, suivant ses enseignements et son exemple,

praémia consequámur aetérna.

we may attain everlasting rewards.

den ewigen Lohn erlangen.

alcancemos los premios eternos.

nous obtenions les récompenses éternelles.

Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum,

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,

Durch unseren Herrn Jesus Christus, deinen Sohn,

Por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo,

Par notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, votre Fils,

qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,

who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God,

der mit dir lebt und herrscht in der Einheit des Heiligen Geistes, Gott,

que contigo vive y reina en la unidad del Espíritu Santo, Dios,

qui vit et règne avec vous dans l'unité du Saint-Esprit, Dieu,

per ómnia saécula saeculórum. Amen.

world without end. Amen.

von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen.

por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.

pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.

— Missale Romanum, 1954