The state herald., 1914-08-28
His Career in the Church
Marked by Succession
Of Honors.
WAS OF HUMBLE ORIGIN
Received Priests Orders in
1858, Year That Was a
Memorable One for
Italy.

little village OF Riese, in the Venetian
province OF Treviso, which, In 1903,
gave to the church n pontiff in MIC
cola Boccasini. who assumed the
triple crown under the name OF Bene-
dict Xl.
Born June 2, 1895. to poor and
humble family OF the name OF Sarto,
Plus X. was christened Giuseppe to-
seph) and known throughout his life
by the dialect equivalent OF Giuseppe,
"Beppo."
The early life of Pope Plus was
filed with activity. The district OF
Treviso is one OF poverty, only those
who have seen 1t realizing the strug
gle for existence that ever prevails.
Little Giuseppe Sarto was one OF a
family OF ten, to feed whose hungry
mouths the father could not earn any
thing approaching Living wage"
This fact suggests what sacrifices the
household had to endure to ensure the
boy the means OF education, finally Sc
cured him through the kindness OF n
parish priest
From an early age Giuseppe, bred
to sturdy outdoor life. displayed a
bent for the priesthood-a bent that
for the most part is religiously re-
spected by Italians of the lower class.
The educational resources OF his birth
place were soon exhausted. and the
lads studious leadings demanded n
wider field for their development. lie
was sent TO a college at Castel- Fran
co. and from there was transferred to
the Central Seminary at Padua, a
world-renowned seat OF Italian learn
ing.
Promotions Earned by Merit.
On September IS. 1858. the young
seminarist received his priests orders
That year was a memorable one for
Italy. The question OF Italian liberia
ton had been forced to the front by
the attempt OF Orsini to assassinate
Napoi,pn Ill. The diplomats OF ma
tions assembled. but the young priest
was not concerned in the movement
He turned his back on the world. and
took up his duties as curate In the vii.
lage of Tombolo. He soon was loved
by his parishioners. to whom he en-
deared himself by his unselfishness,
his self-sacrifice and his tireless labor.
lie was promoted to be parish
priest OF Salzano in 1867. only n year
after the cession OF Venezia tVenice)
to Italy, so that the future pope lived.
for the first thirty.two years OF his
life, under the Austrian regime In his
native province.
The able discharge OF his office rec
commended the pastor of Salzano to
the notice OF Monsignor Zinelli. at
that time the bishop OF the diocese,
who nominated him TO canonry in
the cathedral OF Treviso. This promo
tion was supplemented by bestowai CT
the deanery on Father sarto and his
appointment as episcopal chancellor,
To him also was coniidcd the delicate
and important charge OF spiritual di.
rector to the Seminary OF Treviso. In
which college he was likewise given n
professors chair and an examinership,
Nor did his activities end here. for he
was chosen as Judge In the capitular
ecclesiastical court. and finally was
appointed vicar general OF the do
cese.
Became Famous as Preacher.
Meantime. the recipient of all these
dlgnlties was winning u great repu'n'
ton as n preacher. His sermons. al
though delivered extempore. were dis
tingulshed for both learning and elo-
auence. Yet II is probable that the
example OF his sclf.dcnying and holy
life preached the most eloquent ser
mon OF all. During the intcfregnum
that Rupcrvened on the death OF Mons.
zinolli. II fell 10 the yicargcnerai to
administer the diocese. and this he did
with such notable skill that he was
nominated coadjutor 10 the new bish'
op OF Trcviso.
After such an apprenticeship II was
not surprising that when the impor'
tant see OF Mantua became vacant. In
1884. Leo XIII. chose Giuseppe snrto
TO Nh the place. II was no onsy task
to which he had been called. for his
predecessor had allowed discipline to
become slack His persuasive powers
and administrative gifts were tested
10 the utmost. but he was fully equal
TO tho ungrateful task.
Severe In personal taste. bishop
sarto showed himself jealous In main
talulng tho gorgeous ritual traditions
of his church. and In 1856 tho eooth
centenary OF st. Ansolm was ecle'
brnted under his auspices. while In
1891 hc presided at a like function IN
commemorative OF -, Louis oonznga'
Two years later Pope Loo rccoE'
niscd Bishop ssrto'a merits by raising
him TO tho Sacred college, with tho
title Of San bernardo allie Tcrmc, NJ
n consistory held June 10. 1898 AZ
tho same time hc was chosen out ol
all tho Venetian prelatcp to MI tho
patrihrchnte OF Venice.
In his nine years residence In tho
"scarirt" city the Pope OF tho Con