St. Pius V: Zealous Leadership in Difficult Times

Antonio Ghislieri (Birth name)

Michele Ghislieri (1518)

Pope St Pius V

Born: 17 January 1504

Died: 1 May 1572 (aged 68)

Feast: May 5th, April 30

Antonio Ghislieri joined the dominican order at the age of 15, throughout his life he was an inquisitor, bishop and Cardinal.

After ascending to the Papacy he took charge of Strictly reforming the papal court, implementing the reforms the Council of Trent that had just concluded. Also, He confronted the threat of Muslim Turkish invasions from the east, at the same time he had to deal with the spread of Protestantism in northern territories, especially in France, which posed a threat to the unity of the Church.

He was able to deal with these threats and more despite his short reign of six years and four months.

In 1570 Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth I of England for heresy and schism.

On October 7, 1571, the Battle of Lepanto took place. For some time, the Turks aimed to conquer Europe, seeking to control the continent, spread the errors of Islam, and destroy the Catholic Church.

Pius V mobilized the Christian forces to combat the Turks and called upon all those in Christendom to pray the Holy Rosary to defeat the Islamic threat. This battle was to decide the fate of the world. The outcome would either see the Turks victorious, leading to the destruction of the Church, or the Catholics emerging victorious, quelling the Islamic threat.

Through the intercession of Our Blessed Lady, she obtained from God the victory against the Islamic threat.

At the moment of the victory in the battle, Pope Pius V, who was hundreds of miles away in Rome, left a meeting and went over to a window. Through supernatural knowledge, he exclaimed that the Christian fleet was victorious. He wept tears of joy and thanksgiving

Pope Pius V kept a crucifix on his desk, demonstrating his profound devotion to the Passion of Our Lord. He would often kiss the five wounds of Christ depicted on the crucifix. On one occasion, as he was about to kiss the feet of the crucifix, they moved. Pius, fearing he had committed some hidden sin, was concerned. However, his servants who noticed this, discovered that someone had applied poison to the feet of the crucifix, indicating an attempt on his life.

Quick Facts

• He celebrated Holy Mass every morning.
• His greatest love was Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
• He had a very special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• He proclaimed St. Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church.
• He continued to do penance even during his papacy.
• He was exceedingly severe to public sinners and heretics but very merciful to the repentant.
• He canonized one saint during his reign: Ivo of Chartres
• He ordered the construction of public works to improve the water supply and sewer system of Rome.

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