Sanctus Pius V, Confessor (Duplex)

Sanctus Pius V, Confessor (Duplex)

Tertio Nonas Maji
Sanctus Pius V, Confessor (Duplex)
Ex II Nocturno.

May 5
Saint Pius V, Confessor (Double)
From the 2nd Nocturn.

Pius in oppido Insubriæ, quod Boschum vocant, natus, sed e Bonónia oriundus ex nobili Ghisleriórum família, cum quatuordecim esset annórum, ordinem Prædicatórum ingréssus est. Erat in eo admirábilis patiéntia, profúnda humilitas, summa vitæ austeritas, continuum oratiónis studium, et regularis observántiæ ac divini honoris ardentíssimus zelus. Philosophíæ vero ac theologíæ incumbens, adeo in iis excelluit, ut illas docéndi munus magna cum laude per multos annos exercúerit. Sacras conciónes plúribus in locis cum ingénti auditórum fructu hábuit. Inquisitoris offícium ínviolábili animi fortitúdine diu sustínuit ; multasque civitátes, non sine vitæ discrimine, ab hæresi tunc grassante immunes servávit.

Pius was born in a town called Bosco in Lombardy, but was descended from the Ghisleri, a noble family of Bologna. At the age of fourteen years he entered the order of Friars Preachers. He was a man marked by a wonderful long-suffering, a deep lowliness, a great hardness of living, an unwavering earnestness in prayer, and a most strong zeal for the perfect observance of the Rule of his Order, and for the greater glory of God. He gave himself to the study of Philosophy and Theology, and was so learned in both, that he discharged for many years with great reputation the duties of a Professor of those sciences. He preached publicly in many places, to the great profit of his hearers. He long did the work of Inquisitor with unflinching spirit, and preserved many cities, not without risk to his own life, from the heresy which was then creeping in everywhere.

A Paulo quarto, cui ob exímias virtútes caríssimus erat, ad Nepesínum et Sutrinum episcopátum promotus, et post biennium inter Romanæ Ecclésiæ presbyteros cardinales adscriptus fuit. Tum ad ecclésiam Montis Regalis in Subalpinis a Pio quarto translatus, cum plures in eam abusus irrepsisse cognovísset, totam diœcesim lustrávit ; rebusque compositis Romam revérsus, gravíssimis expediéndis negotiis applicatus, quod justum erat, apostolica libertáte et constántia decernebat. Mortuo autem Pio, præter ómnium exspectatiónem electus Póntifex, nihil in vitæ ratióne, excepto exteriori habitu, immutávit. Fuit in eo religiónis propagandæ perpétuum studium, in ecclesiástica disciplína restítuenda indeféssus labor, in exstirpandis erróribus assidua vigilantia, in sublevandis egéntium necessitátibus indeficiens beneficéntia, in Sedis apostolicæ júribus víndicandis robur invictum.

Paul IV, to whom his virtues had greatly endeared him, raised him to the united Bishopricks of Nepi and Sutri, and after two years he was enrolled among the Cardinal Priests of the Roman Church. Pius IV translated him to the Church of Mondóvi in Piedmont, wherein, on his coming, he found that many corruptions had crept in. He reformed the whole of his diocese, and, after settling his affairs, returned to Rome, where his attention was called to matters of the gravest business, in detérmining which he used Apostolic boldness and firmness. After the death of Pius IV, the fifth Pius, to the astonishment of all men, was elected to succeed him. On becoming Pope he changed his way of life in no respect except as regarded his raiment. The Propagation of Religion was to him the object of unceasing care ; the restoration of the Discipline of the Church, of unwearied toil ; the uprooting of error, of sleepless watchfulness ; the relieving the needs of the poor, of unfailing charity ; the maintenance of the rights of the Apostolic See, of adamantine firmness.

Selímum Turcárum tyrannum multis elátum victoriis, ingénti comparáta classe, ad Echínadas ínsulas non tam armis quam fusis ad Deum precibus devicit. Quam victóriam ea ipsa hora, qua obténta fuit, Deo revelante, cognóvit suisque famíliaribus indicávit. Dum vero novam in ipsos Turcas expeditiónem molirétur, in gravem morbum incidit ; et, acerbíssimis dolóribus patientíssime tolerátis, ad extrema deveniens, cum sacraménta de more suscepísset, ánimam Deo placidíssime réddidit, anno millésimo quingentésimo septuagésimo secundo, ætátis suæ sexagésimo octavo, cum sedísset annos sex, menses tres, dies viginti quatuor. Corpus ejus in basilica sanctæ Maríæ ad Præsépe summa fidélium veneratióne colitur, multis a Deo ejus intercessióne patrátis miraculis. Quibus rite probátis, a Cleménte undecimo, Pontifice máximo, Sanctórum número adscriptus est.

The Turkish Sultan Selim was bloated with many victories, and had got together a huge fleet in the Gulf of Lepanto, but Pius V crushed him, not so much by force of arms as by dint of the prayers wherein he pleaded with God. At the hour that the victory was won, Pius knew it by the inward revelation of God, and stated the fact to his servants. He was busied with the preparations for a new expedition against the Turks, when he was laid down by grievous sickness. He bore most sharp sufferings with the gentlest patience, and when the end came, he received the Sacraments as is usual, and with great peace yielded his spirit to God in the year of salvation 1572, and of his own age the 68th, having sat as Pope six years, three months, and twenty-four days. His body is buried in the Church of St. Mary, where the Manger from Bethlehem is, and is there held in great respect by the faithful, who have obtained from God by his prayers, many evident miracles. The said miracles having been proved by a júdicial investigation Pope Clement XI enrolled his name among those of the Saints.

Sancte Pie, ora pro nobis!
Saint Pius, pray for us!