The Arvada 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.


little village of Riese, In the Venetian
province OF Treviso, which. In 1903.
gave to the church pontin in MIC
cola Boccasini, who assumed the
triple crown under the name OF Bene-
dict ri.
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 lire
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 it 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 a
parish priest
From an early age Giuseppe, bred
to sturdy outdoor life. displayed
bent for the priesthood-a bent that
for tho 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 q
wider field for their development lie
was sent to college at CastelFran.
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 18. 1858. the young
seminarist received his priests orders
in the cathedral of CasteLFranco.
That year was a memorable one for
Italy. The question OF Italian liberia
tion had been forced to the front by
the attempt of Orsini to assassinate
Napoleon III. The diplomats of ma
tions assembled. but tho 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. lie soon was loved
by his parishioners. to whom he en-.
deared himself by his unselfishness.
his self.sacrifice and his tireless labor.
He was promoted to be parish
priest Of Salzano in 1857. only year
after the cession of Venezia tVenice)
to Italy, so that tho 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 oilice rec
commended the pastor OF Salzano to
the notice Of MonsignOr Zinelli. at
that time the bishop OF the diocese.
who nominated him to a canonry In
the cathedral OF Treviso. This promo
tion was supplemented by bcstowal CT
the deanery on Father Sarto and his
appointment AZ episcopal chancellor.
To him also was confided 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 examnership.
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
dlgnities was winning n great rcputa-
ton as n preacher. His sermons, al.
though delivered extcmpore. were dis
tinguishcd for both learning and clio.
qucnce. Yet It is probable that the
example OF his sclf.dcnying and holy
life preached tho most eloquent ser
mon OF all. During the intcrregnum
that supervencd on the death OF Mons.
Iinel!i. Il fell to the vicargencrnl to
administer the diocese. and this he did
with such notable skill that he was
nominated coadju,or to tho new bish.
op Of Trcviso.
After such an apprenticeship II was
not surprising that when tho impor.
tant see OF Mantua became vacant. In
1884. Leo XIII. chose Giuseppe Snrto
to fIl the place. II was no easy task
to which he had been called. for his
predecessor had allowed discipline 10
become slack. His persuasive powers
md administrative gifts were tested
10 the utmost. but no was fully cquni
to the ungratcful task.
Severe in personal taste. Bishop
Sart0 showed himself zenlous In main
taininE the gorgeous rituni traditions
Of his church, and In 1886 tho 9oOth
centenary OF St. AnBclm was celc'
brated under his auspices. while In
1891 he presided Mt like function In
comm emorntion OF 81. Louis Gonzags'
Two years later Pope Ico recoE'
nizsd Bishop Harto's merits by raising
him To the Sacred college. with tho
title Of SAn Bern .rdo nile Tcrmc. Mt
n consistory held Jun. l6. 1881. AZ
tho same time ho wns chosen out OF
all ths Venetian prrlstes TO NIL tn"
patrtarchxtc Of Venice.
In his nins ysarg' residence In sh'
"scagirt" rity the Pope OF tn" Son'