Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope
Our Gospel reading today dramatically expresses God’s absolute grace and mercy. It is not what we do for God but what God does for us. No matter how far from God we stray or “how late we are in the game,” God offers us the merciful wage, not what we have earned, but what his love and mercy freely gives us.
Today we celebrate the feast of Pope Pius X (1903-1914). He served during a demanding and challenging time in the Church and is often remembered chiefly for his very conservative and reactionary response to “modernism.” But he had a strong inclination for frequent Communion
At this time, Jansenism profoundly impacted the Church in Europe. Its focus was the sinfulness and unworthiness of men and women approaching God or living a holy life and certainly not receiving Communion regularly.
As bishop of Mantua diocese, the future Pius X had encouraged frequent Communion. Still, the idea of this practice being offered to the whole Church was quite controversial, partly because of the impact of Jansenism.
Father Eymard strongly encouraged frequent Communion for the non-ordained members of the Congregation. He often stressed in his writings and sermons, “You take Communion to become holy, not because you already are.”
In 1886, Father Eugene Couet SSS, who would be elected the 7th Superior General of the Congregation, waded into the fray when he championed frequent Communion, a teaching he had received from Father Eymard. Some theologians attacked him, and others supported what he championed.
In 1910, Pius settled the controversy on the side of those who favored frequent Communion in his decree, Quam Singularis. The Congregation had secured the teaching of Father Eymard, and the rest is history!
Let Us Pray:
Creator God, you sent Jesus to remind us of your loving and merciful care for us. God left us a Memorial of bread and wine to feed us as we seek to continue Jesus’ ministry of love, healing, and reconciliation. We live in precarious times in our country, world, and Church; give us an abundance of your grace that we might be mediators of peace, reconciliation, and unity for all those who receive the Lord in Communion and seek the truth. May Our Eucharistic Lord grant us this request. Amen.
