Pope from 1903 to 1914 who encouraged frequent Communion and opened First Communion to young children.
Life
Saint Pius X was born Giuseppe Sarto in 1835 to a poor family in Riese, northern Italy. He served many years as a parish priest, then as bishop of Mantua and patriarch of Venice, and was elected pope in 1903.
His motto was to restore all things in Christ. He allowed children to receive First Communion once they reached the age of reason and encouraged frequent Communion; he renewed catechesis and church music and began the codification of canon law. He also sought to protect the Church's teaching against Modernism.
He died in 1914, as the First World War was beginning, and was canonized in 1954. The Church remembers him on August 21.
Spirituality
The spirituality of Pius X is the heart of a parish priest. Even as pope he lived simply and longed for the faithful to meet Christ often in the Eucharist. He believed that clear and simple teaching of the faith would renew the Church.
Reflection
Thanks to Pius X, many children can receive Communion at a young age. Have I come to receive Communion out of mere habit? With what heart will I receive the Lord at my next Mass?