Saint Pius V

St Pius V was born into an impoverished family in Piedmont, Italy. He joined the Order of Preachers at 14 and was ordained to the priesthood at 24. For 16 years, he devoted himself to teaching philosophy and theology. A man of solid piety and austere self-discipline, he passed long nights in prayer. After having distinguished himself as a novice master and prior of various houses of the Order, he was in 1556 made Bishop of Sutri. His zeal for faith led to his being made Inquisitor-general and Cardinal in 1557. He rejected the nepotic appointment of a 13-year-old member of the Medici family to the Sacred College of Cardinals and Emperor Maximilian II's efforts to abolish ecclesiastical celibacy. 

On the death of Pope Pius IV in 1566, he was elected successor. This was a victory for those who desired reform in the Church, for the new Pope's uncompromising stand in matters of faith and discipline was well known by then. Consequently, the Papal court underwent reform; the Cardinals were urged to curb the luxurious lifestyle they were accustomed to; Bishops were required to found diocesan seminaries and to reside in their dioceses; the secular clergy, the Religious Orders, and even the laity came to feel the Pope's influence in carrying out the decisions of the great Council of Trent which had drawn to a close in 1563. Church music and liturgical worship were also reformed. In the political field, Pius worked ceaselessly to bring about a union of the Christian Princes of Europe against the threatening Turks. The faithful were urged to do special penances and almsgiving for this intention, and in 1567, one-tenth of all monastery and convent revenues were collected for this purpose. 

Finally, the Turkish attack on Cyprus brought the forces of Venice, Genoa, Spain, and the Holy See together, Don Juan of Austria as commander-in-chief of the allied fleets, won the great naval victory of Lepanto on 7 October 1571, while a great procession of the Rosary Confraternity was passing through the streets of Rome, imploring divine assistance. In memory of this victory, Pius instituted the feast of Our Lady of Victory, later changed to the feast of the Holy Rosary, and entered the invocation, "Help of Christians" in the Litany of Loreto. In his personal life as Pope, Pius continued the practices of virtue he had followed as a monk, and, his great burden of work notwithstanding, twice daily, he took time to meditate before the Blessed Sacrament. To the poor, he gave generously, and the sick benefited from his visits and personal ministrations. St. Pius V died on 1 May 1572. 

St. Pius V, pray for us to remain steadfast in faith and never be separated from our Lord Jesus.

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Prepared and updated by:

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.