The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1914-08-28
His Career IN the Church
Marked BY Succession
OF Honors. I.
WAS OF HUMBLE ORIGIN
Received Priests Orders IN
1858, Year That Was q
Memorable One for
Italy.


little village OF REESE. In the Venetian
province OF Treviso. which. In l3u5.
gave TO the church"a pontiff in Mic
cola Boccasini. who assumed the
triple crown under the name OF bene-
dict XII.
Born June J. 1885. TO poor and
humble family Of the name OF Sarto.
Pius X. was christened Giuseppe TO
saphl and known throughout his life
by the dialect equivalent OF Giuseppe,
'Bsppo."
The early life of Pope Plus was
flled with activity. The district OF
Treviso ID one OF poverty. only those
who have seen 1t realizing the strug-
gle for existence that ever prevails.
Little Giuseppe sarto was one OF q
family OF ten. 10 feed whose hdngry
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 q
parish priest.
From an early age Giuseppe. bred
10 sturdy outdoor life. displayed q
bent for the priesthood-a bent that
for the most part Is religiously 70
spected by Italians Of the lower class
The educational resources OF his birth.
place were soon exhausted. and tha
lads studious headings demanded
wider field for their development. he
was sent to college at Castel-F'ran,
co, and from there was transferred to
the Central Seminary at padua, a
worId-renowned seat OF Italian learn
ing
Promotions Earned by Merit.
On September Is. 1858. the young
seminarist received his priests orders
in the cathedral OF CastelFranco.
That year was memorable one for
Italy. The question Of Italian liberia
ton had been forced to the front by
the attempt OF Ofsini to assassinate
Napoleon III! The diplomats OF ma.
lions assembled. but the young priest
was not concerned In the movement
He turned his back on the world. and
took UP his duties as curats In the vii.
lage OF Tombolo He soon was loved
by his parishioners. to whom he en-
deared himself by bis unsslnshness.
his self.sacrifce and his tireless labor.
He was promoted to be parish
priest OF Salxano In 1867, only a year
after the eession OF Venezia (Venice)
TO Italy 50 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 ONCE rec
commended the pastor OF Salzano to
the notice OF Mons.gnor Z!nelli, at
that time the bishop OF the diocese,
who nominated him TO canonry in
the cathedral OF Treyiso This promo
ton was supplemented by bestowal OF
the deanery on Father Sarto and bis
appointment as episcopal chancellor.
To him also was cont,ded the delicate
and important charge OF spiritual d.
rector TO the Seminary OF Treviso. In
which college he was likewise given
professors chair and an examinersh,p
Nor did his activities end here, for no
was chosen as a Judge In the capitula<
ecclesiastical court and finally was
appointed vicar general OF the do.
cese.
Became Famous a. Preacher.
Meantime, the recipient Of all these
dignities WAS winning great reputa.
ton as a preacher His sermons. al
though delivered eItempore, were dis
tinguished for both learning and elo-
quence. Yet II is probable that the
example OF his selt-denying aud holy
life preached the most eloquent ser
mon OF oil. During the interregnum
that supervened on the death OF Mons. !
Zinelll. II fell to the yicargenersl to
administer the diocese. and this he did |
with such notable skill that he was
nominated coadiutor to the new bish-
op Of Treviso,
After such an apprenticeship It was
not surprising that when the impcr-
,ant see OF Mantua became vacant. In
1854, Leo XIII chose Giuseppe Sarto !
to all the place. It was no easy task
to which he had been called, for his
predecessor had allowed discipline 10 |
become slack His persuasive powers
and administrative gifts were tested
to the utmost but he was fully equal
TO the unsrasetul task.
Severe In personal taste, Bishop |
sarto showed himself Jealous In main |
tanning the gorgeous ritual traditions
OF his church. and IN 1885 the seoth |
centenary Of 81 Anselm was cele-
DRAFTED under his auspices, while IN
1891 be presided at like function IN
coumenoration o, ST. Louis GorTaga. /.
Two years later Pope Leo reeog' (
rired Bishop Sarto's merits BY raising
him to the Sacred college, with the
ti,le o; San Bernardo ale Terme, az
a ccasis,ory held June Is, 1888 AZ
the same tine he was chosen out q
all the Venetian preiates 10 I'LL the
patriarchate OF Venice
In his nine wears residence IN the
"seagirt- city the Pope a the Gcn. Z