Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1912 — POPE PIUS X NINE YEARS A RULER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POPE PIUS X NINE YEARS A RULER

Shattering the widely accepted belief, in which he himself shared, that he would not live to celebrate nine anniversaries of his elevation to the Vatican throne, Pope Plus X completed the other day the ninth year of his pontificate. The odd superstition that he would die before was based on the manner in which his holiness’ entire life has been divided into nine-year periods. As plain Giuseppe Sarto he was ordained a priest in 18G8 and served as a curate for nine yeank Then followed his promotion to the post of parish priest, at Salzano, where he remained for nine years more. Next came nine years as chancellor of his diocese, nine as Bishop of Tantua and nine as cardinal and patriarch of Venice. So firmly was he convinced that this division of his life would continue to the end that he frequently expressed to friends the certainty he felt that

nine years would terminate his pontificate, a termination possible only with his death. The pope was deluged with telegrams congratulating him on having survived the supposedly fatal period. In honor of his anniversary he also received a large number of cardinals, Vatican officials and personal friends.