Pope St Pius V

30 April FEAST OF POPE ST PIUS V. Pope Francis prayed before his tomb the day after he (Pope Francis) was elected Pope. Who is Pope St Pius V?
Born: 17 January 1504 at Bosco, diocese of Alessandria, Lombardy, Italy
Died: 1 May 1572 in Rome, Italy
Canonized: 22 May 1712 by Pope Clement XI

-from a poor though noble family
-became a Dominican priest in 1528
-taught theology and philosophy for sixteen years and was master of novices
-on several occasions elected prior of different houses of his order
-He himself was an example to all
--fasted, did penance
--passed long hours of the night in meditation and prayer
--traveled on foot without a cloak in deep silence, or only speaking to his companions of the things of God
-In 1556 he was made Bishop
-Frequently called to Rome to be consulted
-he offered an insurmountable opposition to Pius IV when the latter wished to admit Ferdinand de' Medici, then only thirteen years old, into the Sacred College
-defeated the project of Maximilian II, Emperor of Germany, to abolish ecclesiastical celibacy
-On the death of Pius IV, he was, despite his tears and entreaties, elected pope, to the great joy of the whole Church.
-began his pontificate by giving large alms to the poor, instead of distributing his bounty at haphazard like his predecessors
-As pontiff he practiced the virtues he had displayed as a monk and a bishop
-His piety was not diminished in spite of the heavy labours and anxieties of his office
--made at least two meditations a day on bended knees in presence of the Blessed Sacrament
--he visited the hospitals, and sat by the bedside of the sick, consoling them and preparing them to die
--he washed the feet of the poor, and embraced the lepers
--It is related that an English nobleman was converted on seeing him kiss the feet of a beggar covered with ulcers
-very austere and banished luxury from his court
-raised the standard of morality
-laboured with his intimate friend, St. Charles Borromeo, to reform the clergy
-obliged his bishops to reside in their dioceses, and the cardinals to lead lives of simplicity and piety
-diminished public scandals by relegating prostitutes to distant quarters, and he forbade bull fights
-enforced the observance of the discipline of the Council of Trent
-reformed the Cistercians
-supported the missions of the New World
-On the day of the Battle of Lepanto, 7 Oct., 1571, he was working with the cardinals, when, suddenly, interrupting his work opening the window and looking at the sky, he cried out, "A truce to business; our great task at present is to thank God for the victory which He has just given the Christian army". He burst into tears when he heard of the victory, which dealt the Turkish power a blow from which it never recovered. In memory of this triumph he instituted for the first Sunday of October the feast of the Rosary, and added to the Litany of Loreto the supplication "Help of Christians"
-in his deathbed, he prayed, "O Lord, increase my sufferings and my patience!"
(cf Catholic Encyclopedia)