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Pope St. Pius X: A Zucchetto in a Decorative Box
Father Kunst has zucchettos from every pope from Blessed Pius IX to Pope Francis. This is the first one, however, that came in this decorative container, which makes its presentation even more beautiful. The lid of the octagonal container has the coat of arms of Saint Pope Pius X surrounded by an ornamental design of great beauty. While the zucchetto is a treasured artifact, its presentation in such a beautiful container makes it all the more desirable.
More importantly, Pope Pius X is a canonized saint. The fact that this is a zucchetto actually worn by him makes this a 2nd class relic, and for that reason, it is of deep spiritual value and, therefore, a very valued part of the Papal Artifacts’ Collection.
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- Blessing Signed by Pope Pius X
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- Pope St. John XXIII: Signed Blessing in a Silver Presentation Frame
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- Photo With Signature of Pope John Paul II
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- Pope St. Paul VI
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- St. Pius X Zucchetto with Document of Authenticity
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- A Zucchetto of Saint John XXIII
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- Zucchetto Belonging to Pope Saint John Paul II From 1999
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- Pope St. Paul VI: Zucchetto
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- Scrutiny Sheet from the Conclave that Elected St. Pius X
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- Original Charcoal Sketch by Giacomo Manzu From 1963, Signed
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- Chasuble Worn by the Pope Saint John Paul II For the Closing Mass of World Youth Day, Denver, 1993
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- Last Purificator Used by Pope Paul VI, Dated August 3rd, 1978
The Four Canonized Popes of the 20th Century
Pius X (1903-1914) A great pope of the Holy Eucharist; First of the four canonized popes who reigned in the 20th century;
condemned modernist errors
John XXIII (1958-1963) Initiated the 2nd Vatican Council;
Issued Social Justice encyclical Pacem in terris
John Paul II (1978 – 2005) Has written and traveled more than any other Pope; Catechism of the Catholic Church produced during his pontificate; prodigious writer; World Youth Days tremendously successful
Paul VI (1963-1978) Saw to the completion of the 2nd Vatican Council; Issued landmark encyclical Humanae Vitae (On Human Life)
To access all artifacts connected to these saints, please visit them on the Papal Artifacts pages.
To access biographical information about them, go to the Papal History pages.
Papal Artifacts honors these saints and is grateful for the gift of their lives to our Church.
Pope John Paul II & Father Richard Kunst
Saints Left Us Words of Wisdom
Father Richard Kunst, Curator
Pope Francis will presided over an unprecedented event in Christian history, the canonizations of two popes in one ceremony: John XXIII and John Paul II.
While much has been written about these two popes leading up to the canonizations (with, I am sure, much more to come), I would like to share some powerful and yet little known quotes from the two saints. I have read much of what has been written by and about these two popes, so I have chosen a handful of quotes from them that I find to be particularly powerful and edifying.
From John XXIII
First, here are a few quotes from St. John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963:
The human soul is of infinite worth, because it cost the Blood of God. Hence the soul of a savage is more precious than all the world’s wealthy (Journal of a Soul).
Either we are with the Church and follow her directives and merit the name of Catholic, or we prefer to follow our own ideas—promoting and favoring divisions—and have to take the responsibility. Then the name Catholic is no longer appropriate (the official biography).
How can I allow my soul to be reduced by sin to the state of a beast of burden, made a slave of the body—the soul that should command the body? Yet this is just what I have done. What a humbling thought for me! (Journal of a Soul)
It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.
Anybody can become pope; the proof of this is that I have become one.
From John Paul II
Here are some great quotes from St. John Paul II, who reigned from 1978 to 2005:
To have hope is to live in the conviction that God loves me despite my weakness (retreat for students 1954).
When the contemporary man ceases to pray, he ceases to react correctly to the world. (Retreat for Ursuline nuns 1958).
No person is ever useless; each of us is always needed for something (to single Catholics, 1969).
If there is a lack of vocations to the priesthood in a Christian community, if they are not born, if they do not come to the seminaries, if they do not reach the priesthood, then the community bears a negative witness of itself as a Christian community, revealing its inner weakness, proving to be a poor soil. (At 500th anniversary of Krakow Seminary, 1965)
The person who can best build the Kingdom of God is the priest; he is also the most capable of destroying it. (conference for physicians, 1957)
To love means to wish for the other person’s good, to offer oneself for the good of the other. (Student Lenten retreat, 1954)
In the case of Saint John Paul the Great, we have a man who wrote prolifically, so there is a whole lot of material made available to us. In the case of Saint John XXIII, there is not as much. However, one work I would certainly recommend is his Journal of a Soul. In the spirit of a true confession, I will say that I did not have great esteem for John XXIII until I read this book while I was still in seminary, a true spiritual classic!
Saint Pius X, pray for us!
Saint John XXIII, pray for us!
Saint John Paul, pray for us!
Saint Paul VI, pray for us!
