St. Pius V, Pope, Confessor

St. Pius V, of the Order of Preachers, was a Pope of great sanctity. His pontificate was one of the most glorious. He enforced obedience to the decrees of the Council of Trent and revised the Missal and the Breviary. He died in 1572.

Today also marks my last day of classes here at the ITI this year. I have an exam this Friday, two next Tuesday, one Wednesday, and the last one Thursday. The end is near.

It's a shame I don't have the time or energy to write anything more about the great Pope Pius V. Of all the many popes who have not been honored by history with the title "the Great," he, surely, is more deserving of it than any.

O God, Who for the overthrow of the enemies of Thy Church and for the restoration of divine worship didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Pius as supreme Pontiff: grant that we may be defended by his patronage and so cleave to Thy service, that overcoming all the wiles of our enemies, we may rejoice in perpetual peace. Through our Lord. (Collect for today's Mass)

The enemies of the Church referred to above are, of course, the Moslems who were overthrown at the battle of Lepanto in 1571, and probably also the Protestants.