St. Pius X was elected to the papacy in 1903 A.D. This surprised many of the faithful because he had neither intellectual achievements nor diplomatic experience. Yet he is known for his tireless apostolates, generous charities and his holiness. He became known in Church history as the Pope of the Eucharist, because he reduced the required age for first Communion from 14 to 7 years of age. He also encouraged all the faithful to receive Communion as often as they can. When an international war was about to break, Pius X tried to prevent it. He however passed away a few days before World War I began (died 1914 A.D.).
Sts. Luxorius, Cisellus and Camerinus were martyrs during Emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Luxorius was a soldier in the Roman army, but became Christian after he prayerfully read the book of Psalms in the Bible. Because of his faith in Jesus, he was arrested, together with two young boys whom he encouraged after their baptism - Cisellus and Camerinus. St. Luxorius was first scourged with a whip, and then all three were put to death by the sword (died ca. 303 A.D.).
Sts. Bonosus and Maximian were both Christian officers at Antioch. Both were arrested, because they refused to replace the Christian symbol (which Constantine had placed on army standards) with a pagan symbol. It was Julian the Apostate who ordered the pagan symbol to replace the Christian symbol. And when Bonosus and Maximian also refused to worship the pagan gods, they were eventually flogged, racked, and then beheaded (died 363 A.D.).
St. Sidonius Apollinaris married, and worked in the court of Rome for several years. He worked until 468 A.D., and then retired in Auvergne, France. In 469 A.D., he reluctantly accepted to be named bishop of Clermont - since many believed he can defend Rome's honor against the Goths. As bishop, St. Sidonius was charitable to the monks and provided food for thousands during a great famine. Although Clermont was overran by the Goths in 474 A.D. (which cause the exile of Sidonius), Sidonius however was able to return to Clermont in 476 A.D. (died ca. 480 A.D.).
St. Abraham of Smolensk became a priest in Bogoroditskaya monastery. He was an effective preacher but offended the authorities by his emphasis on evangelical poverty and the Last Judgment. Forbidden to preach by his abbot, St. Abraham transferred to another monastery in Smolensk, Russia. Because of his tireless prophetic preaching, he was again in trouble with the people near that monastery. So, he was ordered by the bishop to go back to Bogoroditskaya. His priestly function was removed from him this time. When a drought in the city led to a popular demand for his reinstatement, he was completely exonerated. St. Abraham spent his last years as the abbot of the small run-down Mother of God monastery (died ca. 1221 A.D.).
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