Renewing All Things in Christ

Pope St. Pius X, whose memorial we celebrate today chose as his motto, "To Renew All Things in Christ. He succeeded Pope Leo XIII in 1903 and died in 1914, just at the outbreak of WWI, which he had tried very hard to prevent.  It was an era when the Church needed reform, a task which he undertook to be best of his ability, codifying Canon Law, encouraging biblical scholarship, condemning "Modernism", and writing a .catechism for youth from which he himself taught on Sundays. He promoted liturgical renewal, especially with regard to encouraging the frequent reception of Holy Communion by all from childhood. His saintly life set the tone for the papacy for the 20th and 21st centuries, as seen in the lives of the two popular Popes, John XXIII and John Paul II, soon to be canonized.
Pope Francis too, in his dramatic and energetic way, has set a course for reform, simplification and return to the spirit of the Gospels. His infectious and endearing style and message are already renewing hearts and hope around the world.  We are being guided "from the top" as an institution and as individual members to what it means to live as Jesus did. We who have ears to hear, let us hear.
Bro. Rene