Novena to St. Pius X - Day 2
Pope of The Eucharist
The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau chose St. Pius X as their patron saint and we have done the same for this newsletter and media project. Throughout his life, and particularly during his papacy, St. Pius X was a bold defender of the Church and her traditions; opposing modernist ideologies and promoting scholastic theology. Join us in praying this novena as we ask for St. Pius X’s intercession.
This novena comes from a booklet written by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik in 1954.
Pope of The Eucharist
Reflection
In the address at the canonization of St. Pius X, Pope Pius XII said: "A priest, above all in the Eucharistic ministry: this is the most faithful portrayal of St. Pius X. To serve the mystery of the Blessed Eucharist as a priest, and to fulfill the command of our Savior 'do this in remembrance of me,' was his goal. From the day of his sacred ordination until his death as Pope, he knew no other path than this in order to arrive at heroism in his love of God and to bring about a whole-hearted return to that Redeemer of the world, who by means of the Blessed Eucharist poured out the wealth of His divine love on men. His deep awareness of his priesthood was clearly demonstrated by the extreme care he took to renew the dignity of divine worship. Overcoming the prejudices springing from an erroneous practice, he resolutely promoted frequent, and even daily, Communion of the faithful, and unhesitatingly led children to the banquet of the Lord offering them to the embrace of the God hidden on the altars. Then, the spouse of Christ experienced a new springtime of Eucharistic life.
"The Holy Eucharist and the interior life: this is the supreme and universal lesson which Pius X, from the height of glory, teaches in this hour to all souls. As apostle of the interior life, he becomes, in the age of the machine and organization, the Saint and guide of men of our time."
+Pope Pius XII, May 29, 1954.
In 1905, in his Decree on Frequent Communion, Pope Saint Pius X stated: "Frequent and daily Communion, being most earnestly desired by Christ our Lord and by the Catholic Church, should be open to all the faithful, of whatever rank or condition of life, so that no one who is in the state of grace, and who approaches the Holy Table with an upright and devout intention, can be lawfully hindered."
"At every Mass the faithful who are present should receive Communion, not only spiritually, by way of internal affection, but sacramentally, by the actual reception of the Eucharist."
+Pope St. Pius X, Decree on Frequent Communion, Dec. 20, 1905.
Prayer
Saint Pius, Pope of the Eucharist, teach me to imitate your deep, personal love for Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the Sacrifice of the cross is renewed in an unbloody manner, for Jesus offers Himself to His heavenly Father in the same spirit of love and resignation to His holy Will because He is presÂent m the Sacred Host as the Victim of Calvary. Help me to unite myself with Jesus so as to become one sacrifice with Him. Give me sentiments like His own that I may become a living, holy victim, pleasing to God, and that I may consecrate to Him all the actions, sufferings, tears, and disapÂpointments of my life.
At Holy Communion Jesus opens the treasury of all the grace which He merited for me by His bloody death on the cross. Give me some of the longing of your own heart for Jesus in Holy Communion, where I drink at the very fountain of grace, holiness, and happiness, because in Holy ComÂmunion Jesus gives me His Sacred Heart. Through frequent Holy ComÂmunion - which you urged all the faithful to receive at every Mass - may I obtain the grace to be changed into Jesus by the sanctifying and actuÂal graces which this Sacrament imÂparts. Through Holy Communion I hope to enjoy a foretaste of heaven and to prepare myself for an eternal union with God.
By His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist, Jesus remains with me as my dearest Friend and Companion in my exile here on earth. Through your prayers, strengthen in me the spirit of love and confidence and faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. May that faith be proved by my frequent visits to the Tabernacle. There may I find strength and consolations till I reach my eternal home in heaven. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.
Saint Pius, Pope of the Eucharist, pray for us.