II. Restoration Of The Church

"Undaunted Champion of the Catholic faith

Zealous to restore all things in Christ"

Tomb Inscription

Pope St. Pius X

Why does Saint Pope Pius X, who died 100 years ago, matter today?  For so many reasons, but mostly because of his Papal motto and the theme of his first enclyclical: “To Restore All Things In Christ” –Ephesians 1:10. He lived at a time, not unlike our own, when the secularists and modernists, Marxists and rationalists, when the anti-Christian forces of evil were beginning to spread their errors across a once-Christian civilization, at the highest levels of society, including within the Church. So what did this poor, humble, pastor turned Pope do in response to this threat to Western Civilization? He knew that not even the Pope could accomplish the restoration of a Christian culture, though it was desperately needed, but he also knew that Christ could accomplish the restoration of all things. How was this restoration to be done?

First, would be the frequent and worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist, including lowering the age of reception for children, which St. Pius described as “the shortest and surest way to heaven”.

Second would be the role of the Church, priests and laity alike, as the “inexhaustible treasury of graces for the sanctification and salvation of men” to fulfill our collective duty to “bring back to the discipline of the Church human society, now estranged from the wisdom of Christ.” This is to be accomplished by holy well-formed priests and religious, and truly Catholic families living out their faith.

Third would be devotion to Mary, calling us to imitate this creature rather than the Divine Jesus, because “God mercifully gave us another model … while being as close to Christ as human nature permits, she is better suited to the needs of our weak nature”

Fourth would be to be holy, like the saints, in order to win souls, for “the shining example of Christ’s soldiers has far greater value in the winning and sanctifying of souls than the words of profound treatises”

Fifth would be to sanctify our families in order to restore the Christian civilization. In fact his goal was to rebuild and restore the Christian culture “not only for the sanctification of his own soul, but also for the extension and increase of the Kingdom of God in individuals, families and society. He was not content with private faith and personal conversion, nor even with a reform within the Church, but what flows from the Church and her mission which is the restoration of a Christian culture.

Sixth would be to be not afraid and trust in God, as where sin abounds grace abounds all the more. “When vice runs wild, when persecution hangs heavy, when error is so cunning that it threatens her destruction by snatching many children from her bosom (and plunges them into the whirlpool of sin and impiety) then, more than ever, the Church is strengthened from above” We don’t have to do it all, we just have to do our small part, aided by the grace of God, and God will take care of the rest.

The great Pope facing a world swept up in apostasy, knew that we as Catholics, families and priests alike could not restore the secular culture until we renewed ourselves and the Church, looking within before we could look out, and only then going out to change the world. So Pope Pius reformed priestly formation, instituted frequent reception of the Eucharist, parish-based catechesis, liturgical piety, Marian devotion, while fighting the modernists, relativists, and those who tried to change and corrupt the doctrines and dogmas of the Church. St Pius led the charge with all the zeal and spiritual fervor of a cultural crusader encouraging an army of the faithful to join the in the quixotic cause to restore Christendom, reclaiming it with and for Christ.

“It is not priests alone, but all the faithful without exception, who must concern themselves with the interests of God and souls . . . The times we live in demand action… the frank and open profession of religion… every kind of charitable works. Such luminous examples given by the great army of soldiers of Christ will be of much… avail in moving and drawing men. Large numbers will be won to Christ, becoming in their turn promoters of His knowledge and love which are the road to true and solid happiness.”

                                                                                                Pope Saint Pius, pray for us.

RESTORING ALL THINGS IN CHRIST