Feast day: August 21

St. Pius X

Pope · 1835–1914

Patron of First communicants, pilgrims

Peasant-born pope who lowered the age of First Communion to 7 and urged frequent Communion — 'to restore all things in Christ.'

Born a poor village postman's son, he walked miles to school barefoot to save shoe leather — and never stopped living simply, even as pope.

“Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven.”
— St. Pius X

Image: Ernest Walter Histed (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.