Saint of the Day for 30 April: St. Pius V
St. Pius V: The Reforming Pope of the Sixteenth Century and His Legacy in the Catholic Church
Name
St. Pius V
Title
Pope
Baptismal name
Antonio Ghislieri
Birth
January 17, 1504, Bosco Marengo
Death
May 1, 1572, Rome
Recurrence
30 April
Martyrology
2004 edition
Beatification
April 27, 1672, Rome, Pope Clement X
Canonization
May 22, 1712, Rome, Pope Clement XI
Prayer
O God, who chose Pope St. Pius V for the defense of the faith and the renewal of liturgical prayer, grant that we, too, may participate in your holy mysteries with true faith and industrious charity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
Patron of
Cattolica, Pennabilli, Bosco Marengo, Roccaforte Mondovì
Roman Martyrology
St. Pius V, pope, who, elevated from the Order of Preachers to the Chair of Peter, renewed, according to the decrees of the Council of Trent, with great piety and apostolic vigor divine worship, Christian doctrine and ecclesiastical discipline and promoted the propagation of the faith. On May 1 in Rome he fell asleep in the Lord.
The Saint and Mission
St. Pius V, known for his reforming zeal and integrity, embodied a mission that profoundly transformed the Catholic Church in the 16th century. His pontificate was marked by a relentless commitment to the purity of religious doctrine and practice, reinforcing the principles handed down by the Council of Trent. His determination to fight corruption, reform the clergy and standardize the liturgy through the Roman Missal left an indelible imprint on Catholicism. Pius V pursued these goals not only through decrees and edicts, but he personally lived the values of austerity and devotion that he preached, establishing a model of priestly life that inspired generations. His life provides an example of how absolute dedication to the mission of reform can have a lasting impact, guiding the Church through one of its most critical phases.
The Saint and Mercy
Although St. Pius V is best remembered for his rigor and determination in ecclesiastical reforms, he also manifested deep mercy in his service to the Church. His commitment to justice was balanced by a sincere desire to guide the faithful toward greater holiness and understanding of the Gospel. This mercy was reflected in the way he dealt with heresy and moral disorder; while firm and sometimes severe, he always sought conversion rather than condemnation. His concern for the poor and needy is evident in his support for charitable institutions and in his personal availability to those who had less. St. Pius V demonstrated that true mercy requires courage and firmness, not only to correct errors, but to offer a way of redemption and hope.
Hagiography
S. Pius V was born in a town in Piedmont called Bosco, but he was descended from the noble Ghisieri family of Bologna. Attending a Dominican convent as a child, he ended up embracing the order. He distinguished himself by depth of learning and firmness of virtue, and…