St. Pius V, Pope
1504 - 1572
Pope from 1566-1572 and one of the foremost leaders of the Catholic Reformation. Born Antonio Ghislieri in Bosco, Italy, to a poor family, he labored as a shepherd until the age of fourteen and then joined the Dominicans, being ordained in 1528. Called Brother Michele, he studied at Bologna and Genoa, and then taught theology and philosophy for sixteen years before holding the posts of master of novices and prior for several Dominican houses. Named inquisitor for Como and Bergamo, he was so capable in the fulfillment of his office that by 1551, and at the urging of the powerful Cardinal Carafa, he was named by Pope Julius III commissary general of the Inquisition. In 1555, Carafa was elected Pope Paul IV and was responsible for Ghislieri’s swift rise as a bishop of Nepi and Sutri in 1556, cardinal in 1557, and grand inquisitor in 1558. While out of favor for a time under Pope Pius IV who disliked his reputation for excessive zeal, Ghislieri was unanimously elected a pope in succession to Pius on January 7, 1566. As pope, Pius saw his main objective as the continuation of the massive program of reform for the Church, in particular the full implementation of the decrees of the Council of Trent. He published the Roman Catechism, the revised Roman Breviary, and the Roman Missal; he also declared Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church, commanded a new edition of the works of Thomas Aquinas, and created a commission to revise the Vulgate. The decrees of Trent were published throughout all Catholic lands, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the New World, and the pontiff insisted on their strict adherence. In 1571, Pius created the Congregation of the Index to give strength to the Church’s resistance to Protestant and heretical writings, and he used the Inquisition to prevent any Protestant ideas from gaining a foot hold in Italy. In dealing with the threat of the Ottoman Turks who were advancing steadily across the Mediterranean, Pius organized a formidable alliance between Venice and Spain, culminating in the Battle of Lepanto, which was a complete and shattering triumph over the Turks. The day of the victory was declared the Feast Day of Our Lady of Victory in recognition of Our Lady’s intercession in answer to the saying of the Rosary all over Catholic Europe. Pius also spurred the reforms of the Church by example. He insisted upon wearing his coarse Dominican robes, even beneath the magnificent vestments worn by the popes, and was wholeheartedly devoted to the religious life. His reign was blemished only by the continuing oppression of the Inquisition; the often brutal treatment of the Jews of Rome; and the ill advised decision to excommunicate Queen Elizabeth I of England in February 1570, an act which also declared her deposed and which only worsened the plight of English Catholics. These were overshadowed in the view of later generations by his contributions to the Catholic Reformation. Pope Clement beatified him on May 1, 1672, and Pope Clement XI canonized him on May 22, 1712.
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Dear Pope St. Pius V, Please pray for me.
St. Pius V, Pope, ora pro nobis!
Pray that we have unwavering zeal for the furtherance of Holy Church!
Pray that we defend Her and all that is holy!
Pray that we defend the most helpless innocents of our day, the unborn who are in danger of abortion!
Give us the zeal and grace to desire it, that we can defend them on the front lines or in our daily prayers, like Catholic Warriors, for the greater glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
Amen! Our God is not dead! He is alive!
We are called to holiness too!
Arise children of God!
Lisa
Dear St. Pius V, valiant soldier of Christ and beloved of Mother Mary, pray for us on your feast day. God raised you from being a humble shepherd in your youth to becoming pope. What an unexpected rise to importance and power. God's ways for us are not easily visible. Pray for us ordinary people to rise to whatever God calls us to be, however humble or high, we don't know. Dear Pope St. Pius V implore Mother Mary to fight our spiritual battles for us. Santa Maria della Victoria, I have worshiped in your most amazing church in Venti Settembre, Rome. I heard and read about the victory that you granted at Lepanto to the Catholic army against the Ottoman Turks. I recall my times in your beloved church. I also recall my visit to the Sistine chapel of Santa Maria Maggiore, where lies the incorrupt remains of Pope Paul V. Pray for us dear saint...for a miraculous cure for all suffering children and the bedridden. Grant me wisdom, discernment, and understanding. Give me great graces. Amen.
This saintly pope noted for his zeal to defend the church, led an austere life, wearing coarse garments under his papal attire! A novel example for all of us to emulate.
We are looking for a book on St. Pius V. Are there any available?
Thanks.
This saint was so brave and faithful! there is so much that the average catholic doesn't know about the early origins of our great church. I will be researching more historical facts because of this article and other articles that I have read here.