Rocky Ford enterprise., 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 R1ese, In the venetian
province of Treviso, which, in 1903,
gave to the church a pontin 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,
Plus X. was christened Giuseppe tJo-
seph) 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
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
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
wider field for their development. He
was sent to a 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 Castel-Franco.
That year was memorable one for
Italy. The question of Italian liberia
ton had been forced to the front by
the attempt of Orsini to assassinate
Napoleon III. 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 unselfshness,
his self-sacrifice and his tireless labor.
He was promoted to be parish
priest of Salzano in 1867, only 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
LIB ~ tha
who nominated him to a canonry In
the cathedral OF Treviso. This promo
ton was supplemented by bestowal CT
the deanery on Father Sarto and his
appointment as episcopal chancellor
To him also was confided the delicate
and important charge of spiritual d.
rector to the Seminary OF Trevfso. In
which college he was likewise given a
professors chair and an examinership.
Nor did his activities end here. for he
was chosen as a 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
dignities was winning great reputa-
ton as a preacher. His sermons. al
though delivered extempore. were dis
tinguished for both learning and elo-
quence. Yet 1t is probable that the
example of his self-denying and holy
life preached the most eloquent ser
mon Of ALL During the interregnum
that supervened on the death OF Mons.
Zinelli, 1t fell to the vicar-general TO
administer the diocese. and this he did
with such notable skill 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. 1t 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 ungrateful task.
Severe in personal taste, Bishop
Sarto showed himself jealous In main
tanning the gorgeous ritual traditions
OF his church, and in 1885 the 9ooth
centenary of st. Anselm was ceie-
brated under his auspices, while IN
1891 he presided at like function IN
commemoration of st. Louis Gonzaga
Two years later Pope Leo recog-
nized Bishop Sarto's merits by raising
him to the Sacred college. with the
title of San Bernardo allie Terme, at
a consistory held June 15. 1893. AT
the same time he was chosen out oil
all the Venetian prelates to NIL the
patriarchate of Venice.
In his nine years' residence in the
''seagirt" city the Pope of the Gcn-I