St. Pius I
Pope and Martyr
O eternal Shepherd, watch over the peace of Thy flock, and through blessed Pius, Thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, whom thou didst appoint shepherd over the whole Church, keep her under Thy constant protection. Through our Lord etc.
Ant. This Saint hath striven for the law of his God even unto death, and hath not feared for the words of the ungodly; for he had been founded upon a firm rock.
V. Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, O Lord.
R. And hast set him over the works fo thy hands.
This is indeed a Martyr, who shed his blood for Christ's name: Who feared not the threats of judges, nor sought the glory of worldly honor, but hath attained to the heavenly kingdoms.
V. The Lord conducted the just through the right ways, and dowed him the hingdom of God.
(Roman Breviary)
Saint Pius I, born in the State of Venice, succeeded Saint Hygin in the year 142 as the ninth successor to Saint Peter, during the reign of the emperor Antoninus the Pious. Throughout his pontificate he took great care to make the religion of Christ flourish, and published many beautiful ordinances for the utility of the universal Church. In his decrees he was severe towards blasphemers and with the clergy who showed negligence for the divine Mysteries of the altar. Saint Pius ordained that Easter be celebrated on a Sunday; in this way the custom which the Apostles had already observed became an inviolable law of the Church.
His pontificate was marked by the efforts of various heretics in Rome, among them the gnostics Valentinian, Cerdon, and Marcion, to sow their errors in the Church's center. The last-named, when excluded from communion by Saint Pius, founded the heretical group which bears his name. Saint Justin and other Catholic teachers assisted the Pontiff in defending Christian doctrine and preserving it from corruption. After having governed the Church for fifteen years Saint Pius I obtained the crown of martyrdom by the sword, in the year of Our Lord 150.
Topic: St. Pius I Pope and Martyr (Read 448 times)