Novena to St. Pius X - Day 7
Support of Family Life
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.
Support of Family Life
Reflection
In his address at the canonization of Saint Pius X, Pope Pius XII said: "In the proÂfound vision which he had of the Church as a society, Pius X recognized that it was the Blessed Eucharist which had the power to nourish its intimate life substantially, and to raise it high above all other human soÂcieties. Only the Eucharist, in which God gives Himself to man, is apt to lay the foundations of a social life worthy of those who live it, cemented more by love than by authority, rich in activity and aimed at the perfection of the individual : a life that is 'hidden with Christ in God.'
"What a providential example for the world of today . . . Let it look, then, for its model at the Church, gathered around her altars. There in the Sacrament of the Eucharist mankind really discovers and recognizes that its past, present, and fuÂture are in unity in Christ . . . Only in the Church, the holy Pontiff seems to repeat, and for her in the Blessed Eucharist -which is 'life hidden with Christ in God,' is to be found the secret and source of reÂnewed social life." + Pius XII, May 29, 1954.
Saint Pius X "ordained, commended, counselled, and commanded" two great prinÂciples and practices : early Communion for little children and frequent Communion for adults. Saint Pius X speaks of this need of the Eucharist in social and family life in . these words:
"All the faithful, married or single, young or old, even children from their first Communion, are invited to go to Holy Communion frequently; yes, daily." +Saint Pius X, December, 1905.
Saint Pius X speaks of the Church as the protector of the Christian Family and society: "The efficacy of the doctrine and morality taught by Jesus Christ is so limitÂless that providentially it sustains and proÂmotes the material welfare of individuals, of the family and society. "The Church, even in preaching Jesus Christ crucified - a stumbling block and foolishness to the world - has become the foremost leader and protector of civilization ... The civilization of the world is ChrisÂtian ; the more it is purely Christian, the truer, more lasting and more productive of genuine fruit it is. The more it draws away from the Christian ideal, the more it seriÂously endangers the social order. Hence, by the very nature of things, the Church has become in fact the guardian and proÂtector of Christian society." +Saint Pius X, June 11, 1905.
Prayer
Saint Pius, loving Shepherd of the flock of Christ and zealous def ender of the Christian family, to your fatherly protection I commend our family, our household and all that belongs to us. We entrust all to your love and keeping. Through your prayÂers, fill our home with the blessings that filled the holy home of Nazareth.
The aim of your pontificate was to restore all things in Christ. Pray that Jesus and Mary may reign over us. Help each one of us to obey God's holy Law and to love God and our neighÂbor, sincerely, as you did. Preserve us and our home from all misfortunes especially from sin. Grant that we may ever be resigned to God's holy will in any cross or sorrow which He may permit to come to us.
Saint Pius, our loving Father, through your prayers obtain for us the grace to live in perfect charity and peace. May every one of us deserve by a holy life the comfort of God's holy Sacraments at the hour of death, so that we may be reunited as a family in heaven.
Fatherly defender of the Christian family, pray for the families of the world that they may be truly Christian in spirit. May they be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the obÂservance of God's holy laws, that they may be preserved in the practice of Christian virtues and enjoy the peace which the world cannot give.
Pray especially for Catholic families that the Eucharistic spirit may abide in them, and that they may be filled ' with the peace and joy of Christ. May each member of the family -parents and children -bring about the reign of Christ in the home not only by keeping the commandments and avoiding sin, but by the frequent reception of the Sacraments and by prayer. Through your prayers obtain that all Catholic families may be like the Holy Family at Nazareth, with husÂband and wife devoted to each other in sincerest love, and children subject to their parents for the love of God. And after enjoying the blessings of this life, may they be admitted to those which are eternal. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.
Saint Pius, support of family life, pray for us.