By Yves Chiron

Saint Pius X is the first pope in modern history to be canonized since Saint Pius V in 1712. The Church canonized him because of the heroic virtues he practiced in his private life and also in the performance of his ecclesiastical duties: Assistant Priest, Pastor, Canon, Episcopal Chancellor, seminary spiritual director, Bishop, Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, and Pope from 1903 to 1914.

Yves Chiron's fresh biography breaks new ground by establishing an exact, fair portrait of Saint Pius X, who is often portrayed as a pious pope of great Faith, but "retrograde, simplistic and close minded to modern aspirations and new ideas." The work accomplished by Saint Pius X was monumental. He was not a pietistic simpleton, but a powerful and brilliant defender of the True Faith in the face of the Modernism that was invading the Church even in those days - the beginnings of the Liberalism that resurfaced at Vatican II.

Mr. Chiron demonstrates that he was a tireless defender of the rights of the Church against secularism. He was a great reforming pope; restoring Gregorian chant as the sacred music of the Church; reforming the Curia; initiating the codification of Canon Law, and devoting himself especially to reforming the seminaries in order to form pious, zealous young priests, on guard against the creeping infection of Modernism.

In researching this book, Yves Chiron draws from many sources, especially from Italy, where this great man, so beloved by his countrymen, rose from being a poor country farm boy to being the Vicar of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The author was also able to research the Secret Vatican Archives.

There is no better "rags - to - riches" story, for he came from a poor but hardworking family and rose to the heights of spiritual riches. This book not only relates the historical events of the Pope's life but offers many personal stories that are like windows into his soul and clearly show his saintly personality.

352 pp. Softcover. 24 pp of illustrations.