Editing Pope Pius X (section)

== Liturgical reforms and communion ==
Pius X worked to increase devotion among both clergy and [[laity]], particularly in the [[Roman Breviary|Breviary]], which he [[Reform of the Roman Breviary by Pope Pius X|reformed considerably]], and the [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]].

Besides restoring to prominence [[Gregorian chant]], he placed a renewed [[liturgy|liturgical]] emphasis on the [[Eucharist]], saying, "Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven." To this end, he encouraged frequent reception of Holy Communion. This also extended to children who had reached the "age of discretion", though he did not permit the ancient Eastern practice of [[Infant Communion|infant communion]]. He also emphasized frequent recourse to the [[Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)|Sacrament of Penance]] so that Holy Communion would be received worthily. Pius X's devotion to the Eucharist would eventually earn him the honorific of "Pope of the Blessed Sacrament", by which he is still known among his devotees.

In 1910, he issued the decree ''[[Quam singulari]]'', which changed the age at which Communion could be received from 12 to 7 years old, the [[Age of reason (canon law)|age of discretion]]. The pope lowered the age because he wished to impress the event on the minds of children and stimulate their parents to new religious observance; this decree was found unwelcome in some places due to the belief that parents would withdraw their children early from Catholic schools, now that [[First Communion]] was carried out earlier.<ref name="Steven M 1997 pp.57-80"/> Pius X even personally distributed First Communion to a four-year-old boy the day after the child was presented to him and demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the meaning of the sacrament.<ref name=SPX/> When people would criticize Pius X for lowering the age of reception, he simply quoted the words of Jesus, "let the little children come to me".

Pius X said in his 1903 ''motu proprio'' ''[[Tra le sollecitudini]]'', "The primary and indispensable source of the true Christian spirit is participation in the most holy mysteries and in the public, official prayer of the Church."<ref name="Steven M 1997 pp.57-80"/>

He also sought to modify papal ceremonies to underscore their religious significance by eliminating occasions for applause. For example, when entering his first public consistory for the creation of cardinals in November 1903, he was not carried above the crowds on the ''[[sedia gestatoria]]'' as was traditional. He arrived on foot wearing a cope and mitre at the end of the procession of prelates "almost hidden behind the double line of [[Palatine Guard]]s through which he passed".<ref>{{cite journal | journal = The Tablet | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5bqKct7ChQYC&pg=PA778 | pages= 778–9, 813–4| access-date = 18 July 2018 | date = 14 November 1903| title = The Pope's First Allocution}}</ref>