Saint pope pius ix biography

Pope Pius IX was the 255th man elected to lead the Catholic Church and the ninth such individual to choose “Pius” as his papal name. This article will discuss major moments in his life and summarize his papacy while also spicing things up with a few personable tidbits about the man to keep students invested in learning.

Early Life and Education.

Giovanni Mastai-Ferretti was born the ninth of Girolamo dei conti Ferretti’s children, making him nobility. He studied at Volterra’s Piarist College and also within Rome. While he was a young man within the Guardian Nobile, he fell in love with Miss Foster, one of the Irish Bishop of Kilmore’s five daughters. Mastai’s parents refused to accept the union and chose not to attend their son’s wedding.

Mastai encountered the newly-freed Pope Pius VII in 1814, while studying Theology in Sinigaglia. A year later, he joined the Papal Noble Guard, only to subsequently be dismissed from service due to his epilepsy. Pius VII listened to his worries and allowed him the opportunity to continue studying theology. While Pius VII suggested that another priest help Mastai during Holy Mass, this was retracted when the attacks occurred less and less frequently. Mastai formally joined the priesthood on April 10, 1819.

Career with the Church.

Mastai started his clerical work within the Tata Giovanni Institute. He was also deployed to Chile, in 1823, and Peru, in 1825, to help Monsignores Muzi and Kane, respectively, during the first post-Revolutionary mission trip to South America. Said mission was intended to assess the Church’s role in a newly independents South America. After returning to Rome, Pope Leo XII made Mastai the head of San Michele’s hospital and later appointed him Archbishop of Spoleto in 1827.

Four years into Mastai’s time as Archbishop, Spoleto was dragged into the revolutions of Parma and Modena. Archbishop Mastai received a general pardon upon the suppre

1. Background

Introduction

Few have embodied their institutions and their times as well as Pope Pius IX. The longest reigning pope in history, Pius led the See of Rome through the turbulent mid to late nineteenth century and in the process presented the Church’s response to the modern world. Pius is known best today as the pontiff who called for the First Vatican Council, which defined the doctrine of papal infallibility but Pio Nono was also the leader who led the Papal State through its first modern reforms. Pius was, if nothing else, a complicated man who did whatever he could for the preservation of his beloved Church. Many have noted the profound changes in his policy and practice over the course of his long pontificate. That Pius evolved as a Pope is without doubt, but the one constant throughout his papacy and his life was his unquestioning devotion to the Church. Even while declaring himself (as Pope) infallible he was a servant of the Church. 

Early Life and Priesthood

Pius IX was born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti the ninth and last child of Count Girolamo Mastai-Ferretti and Caterina Solazzi in 1792. His family was noble but not wealthy and on his father’s side there was a clerical tradition. Young Mastai-Ferretti’s education began under his mother who was devoted to the Virgin Mary. Indeed, all four of her daughters were named after the Mother of Jesus, and her son Giovanni received the name as well (Maria). At 11, his formal education began when he was sent to Saint Michaels School in Tuscany. Scolopi Fathers, who like his mother were devoted to Mary, ran the school and although known as a good school its selection probably had more to do with the cult of the Virgin. Mastai-Ferretti suffered epilepsy (or a similar disorder) and the priests eventually sent him home because they could not take care of him. In 1812, his poor health helped him avoid the military draft. During his early years, Europe wa

On February 7, the Church celebrates the memory of Blessed Pius IX, a determined Pope who made important proclamations and died "prisoner" in the Vatican for the freedom of the papacy and the Church.

1.- The dogma of the Immaculate Conception

Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on December 8, 1854.

For the faithful, the belief that they had held for centuries - that the Virgin was conceived without original sin - was finally confirmed by the Church and became a truth of faith through this dogma.

2. The First Vatican Council and the dogma of the Pope's infallibility

Pius IX convened the First Vatican Council, which was inaugurated on December 8, 1869, in St. Peter's Basilica. In this great event, the dogma of the infallibility of the Pope was proclaimed.

This truth of faith indicates that when the Successor of Peter speaks "ex-cathedra," that is, when he defines a doctrine on faith and morals with all his authority, it becomes a truth that cannot be changed and that Catholics assume as a definitive certainty.

3. Saint Joseph, Patron of the Church

On December 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX issued a decree proclaiming St. Joseph as the Patron Saint of the Catholic Church.

4.- Precious Blood of Christ

It was also Pius IX who, in 1849, instituted the feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. At first, the feast was celebrated on the first Sunday of July.

Decades later, St. Pius X moved it to July 1, but with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ is now celebrated on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

5.- "Prisoner in the Vatican."

When Pius IX assumed the pontificate in 1846, the Papal States were still in existence, located in the center of Italy. At that time, the Italian territory was divided into kingdoms, but political and military interests fought for its "unification."

The lands under the Pope's rule created a barrier for this objective, and so a seri

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(GIOVANNI MARIA MASTAI-FERRETTI).

Pope from 1846-78; born at Sinigaglia, 13 May, 1792; died in Rome, 7 February, 1878.

Before his papacy

His early years

After receiving his classical education at the Piarist College in Volterra from 1802-09 he went to Rome to study philosophy and theology, but left there in 1810 on account of political disturbances. He returned in 1814 and, in deference to his father's wish, asked to be admitted to the pope's Noble Guard. Being subject to epileptic fits, he was refused admission and, following the desire of his mother and his own inclination, he studied theology at the Roman Seminary, 1814-18. Meanwhile his malady had ceased and he was ordainedpriest, 10 April, 1819. Pius VII appointed him spiritual director of the orphan asylum popularly known as "Tata Giovanni", in Rome, and in 1823 sent him, as auditor of the Apostolic delegate, Mgr Muzi, to Chile in South America. Upon his return in 1825 he was made canon of Santa Maria in Via Lata and director of the large hospital of San Michele by Leo XII. The same pope created him Archbishop of Spoleto, 21 May, 1827. In 1831 when 4000 Italian revolutionists fled before the Austrian army and threatened to throw themselves upon Spoleto, the archbishop persuaded them to lay down their arms and disband, induced the Austrian commander to pardon them for their treason, and gave them sufficient money to reach their homes. On 17 February, 1832, Gregory XVI transferred him to the more important Diocese of Imola and, 14 December, 1840, created him cardinal priest with the titular church of Santi Pietro e Marcellino, after having reserved him in petto since 23 December, 1839. He retained the Diocese of Imola until his elevation to the papacy. His great charity an