April 30, St. Pius V

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.--Psalm 66:1

Mass readings: Acts 8:26-40 / John 6:44-51

The Papal Wardrobe

Ever wonder why the pope wears white? Today's saint has the answer. Pius became a Dominican at age 12, and pope at 62. He labored to care for the poor, to implement the reforms of the recent Council of Trent, to keep peace among Papal States, and to deal with Turkish invasions. At the key battle of Lepanto on Oct. 7, 1571, the Christian victory was attributed to devotion to the rosary that Pius promoted. He instituted the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary that we still observe on that date.

Despite papal bureaucracy, Pius tried to maintain the simplicity of his Dominican life and so continued to wear his white Dominican habit, the color the pope wears to this day. Whatever colors we wear, may we always ''put on the Lord Jesus Christ'' (Romans 13: 14).

Prayer: Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us.