5 May -- St Pius V

Today in the traditional Roman Rite: the feast of S Pius V, the  pope of Lepanto and Quo Primum . . . and also of that very unfortunate decree releasing English Catholics from their obedience to Queen Elizabeth I, which unleashed a wave of persecution and arguably brought no-one back to the Catholic faith. Although, almost half a millennium later, it does remind those who need reminding that even the best of popes can make serious errors of prudential judgement.

A collect and a hymn for Pope S Pius.