The Raymer enterprise., 1914-08-27
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.


province OF Treyiso, which, In 1903,
gave to the church pontiff In Mic
cola, Boccasini. who assumed the
triple crown under the name OF Bene-
dict XI.
Born June 2, 1885. to poor and
humble family OF the name OF Sarto,
i'us X. was christened Giuseppe tJo-
sephJ and known throughout his life
by the dialect equivalent of Giuseppe,
"Beppo."
The early life OF Pope Plus was
filled 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 teed whose hungry
mouths the father could not earn any
thing approaching a 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
parish priest
From an early age Giuseppe, bred
10 sturdy outdoor life. displayed
bent for the priesthood-a bent that
tor the most part is religioasiy re-
Tpected by Italians OF the lower class.
The educational resources of his birth.
place were soon exhausted. and the
lads studlous leadings demanded
wider field for their development He
was sent to college at Castel Fran.
co. and from there was transferred to
the Central Seminary at padua.
world-renowned seat OF Italian learn.
Ing.
Promotions Earned by Merit.
On September 18, 1858, the young
seminarist received his priests orders
In the cathedral OF CasteIFranco.
That year was memorable one for
Italy. The question OF Italian liberia.
tion had been forced to the front by
The attempt OF Orsinl to assassinate
Napoleon Ill. The diplomats OF ma.
lions assembled. but the young priest
was not concerned in the movement.
Tile turned his back on the world, and
took up bis duties as cuTate in the vii
iage OF TombolO. lie soon was loved
oy his parishioners. to whom he en-.
deared himself by his unselfishness,
his seli-saerifice and hts tireless labor.
He was promoted to be parish
priest Of SaIzano in 1867. only year
after the cession OF Venczia tVenice)
to Italy. so that the future pope lived.
for the first thlrty-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 Zineln, at
that time the bishop OF the diocese.
who nominated him to a canonry in
the cathedral of Treviso. This promo
ton was supplemented by bestowal OF
the deanery on Father sarto and his
appointment as episcopal chancellor
To him also was contided the delicate
and important charge OF spiritual di.
rector TO the Seminary Of Treviso, In
which college he was likewise given
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
dignitles was winning a great reputa-
tion as a preacher His sermons, al
though delivered extempore were dis
tinguished for both learning and elo-
quence. Yet II is probable that the
example OF his self-denying and holy
life preached the most eloquent SER
mon of all. During the intefregnum
that superyencd on the death of Mons.
Zinelli, II fell to the vicargeneral TO
administer the diocese. and this he did
with such notable skin that he was
nominated coadjutor to the new bish-
op of Treviso.
After such an apprenticeship 1t was
not surprising that when the impor-
tant see of Mantua became vacant. in
1884, Leo XIII. chose Giuseppe Sarto
TO fill the place. II was no easy task
TO which he had been called. for his
predecessor had allowed discipline to
become slack. His persuasive powers
and administrative gifts were tested
TO the utmost, but he was fully equal
to the ungratefnl task
Severe In personal taste, Bishop
Sarto showed himself jealous in main
tanning the gorgeous ritual traditions
OF his church, and in 1886 the 9Ooth
centenary of St. Anselm was cele-
brated under his auspices, while In
1891 he presided at like function in
commemorative OF St Louis Gonzage.
Two years later Pope Leo recog-
nized Bishop Sartos merits by raising
him to the Sacred college. with the
title Of San Bernardo allie Terme, at
consistory held June 15. 1888. At
the same time he was chosen out OF
all the Venetian prelates to I'LL the
patriarchate OF Venice.
In bis nine years residence IN the
"seagirt" city the Pope OF the Con-