Saint Gregory the Great:

Feast day : 03 September

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Gregory the Great, who lived during the period 540-604. His profound influence in shaping Christianity and the European history earned him the title ‘the Great’. He was instrumental in converting England to the Christian faith through the ‘Gregorian Mission’ that was led by the prior of his monastery, Saint Augustine of Canterbury, later known as the Apostle to the English. His several priceless literary contributions earned him the title ‘Doctor of the Church’. He was canonized on popular acclaim soon after his death on March 12, 604. He is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers.

Early life:

Saint Gregory was born in Rome in the year 540 to a renowned senatorial family. He grew up in wealth and was privileged to receive a good education. His father was a very wealthy man but renounced the world and died as one of the seven cardinal deacons who took care of the ecclesiastical needs of Rome. After his death, his mother Sylvia consecrated her life to God and joined a convent. Gregory excelled in his education and skills and by the age of 30 he had attained the highest office in Rome. He was the urban prefect and had great influence in the city government. After his father’s death he became one of the richest men in Rome. Though he lived among the rich and influential of society, in his heart he detested the pride of the world. After his father’s death, he gave his six properties to be founded as monasteries in Sicily. His own home in Rome became the monastery of St. Andrew where he lived as a simple monk under a religious superior.

Monastic life:

A hospital was built at the entrance to the monastery and he served the sick in it. He continued in his monastic life, detached from worldly cares for a few more years. However, even during his monastic life, his talents and reputation grew. Pope Benedict I asked him to serve as a Counsellor and as one of the seven deacons of the city. The next Pope, Pelagius II chose him to go on a mission to Constantinople. His mission was to be the Pope’s representative at the court of the Roman Emperor in Constantinople and obtain military support against the Lombards, an invading German tribe who were threatening to sack Rome. St. Gregory spent seven years in the royal court in Constantinople but his efforts were not successful. The Emperor’s troops were constantly engaged elsewhere. Though he failed in his mission, the time he spent in Constantinople was invaluable to him as he learned the workings of the imperial court that would later help him. During this time, he wrote his famous Moralia or Morals on the Book of Job which he delivered as lectures to his monks.

Gregorian Mass:

He returned to Rome in 586 and was elected the Abbot of his monastery. During his time as the Abbot, there was an incident relating to a dying monk Justus who was condemned for hiding three gold coins. His act was against the rule of abandonment of worldly wealth and desires and Saint Gregory ordered him to be left to die alone. His punishment appeared just. Later after his death, St. Gregory was greatly troubled and asked his prior to offer Holy Masses for the soul of Justus. On completion of the 30th Mass, Justus appeared to the prior in a dream and confirmed that he was at rest now. This incident led to the practice of offering 30 Masses for a departed soul called ‘Gregorian Mass’.

Gregorian Mission:

Saint Gregory was also instrumental in shaping the history of the catholic faith in England. Going through the Roman forum one day, St. Gregory saw three slaves for sale. He was struck by their beauty and grace and enquired where they came from. When he was told they came from Britain and were still pagan, St. Gregory exclaimed, “Ah, what a pity that the author of darkness owns such fair faces, and that, with such grace of outward form, they should lack inward grace!” He was deeply interested in converting England and set out as head of a mission to England with due permission from Pope Pelagius. However, the people of Rome were greatly grieved by this and beseeched the Pope to recall him from his mission. Thus he was called back from his mission but years later when he became Pope Gregory, he sent the Prior of his monastery of St. Andrew to England on a mission to convert them to the Catholic faith. This Prior was St. Augustine of Canterbury, who later came to be known as the "Apostle to the English" and founder of the English Church.

Papacy:

When Pope Pelagius II died of the plague in 590, Saint Gregory was elected his successor. As the plague continued to cause harm to the people, St. Gregory organised a great procession to the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin. According to legend, he himself carried the picture of Our Lady, painted by St. Luke, in the procession. When the procession came near the mausoleum of Hadrian, St. Gregory and all the people saw the Archangel Saint Michael standing on its summit in the act of sheathing a flaming sword, symbolizing that the plague was over.

He accepted his papacy very unwillingly but once consecrated he diligently performed all his duties and responsibilities. His pontificate was crowned with several achievements from 590-604. His most influential literary works, the Pastoral Care, was written at the beginning of his pontificate wherein he wrote about the reason for his reluctance to accept his election as the Pope. It is a treatise which gives advice to all who rule others and gives suggestions on how the priest or bishop should live and guide others. The book enumerates how to deal with 40 different classes of people revealing the deep insight that St. Gregory had into human nature. King Alfred in the 9th century ordered a copy of it to be given to every bishop in his jurisdiction and Charlemagne made its study an obligation for bishops of his territories. In France it became a custom to put a copy of Pastoral Care in the hands of the bishops during their consecration.

He was a man of deep humility and considered everybody to be his brother. As a custom, he would invite 12 poor people to his table and personally serve them dinner, in imitation of the Last Supper.

He was a mystic and believed that contemplation was only momentary and that it should result in good works. He promoted the views of St. Benedict that monks should also work. He used his authority and influence to propagate the ideals of Benedictine monasticism and contributed in an immeasurable way to shaping the monastic life in the West. He defined the relations between monasteries and bishops and clergy. The privileges that he granted became the basis of much of that part of Canon law which defined and governed those ecclesiastical and monastic boundaries.

Literary Contributions:

His significant literary contributions are summarised as – the chanting of the Alleluia outside the Easter time, the transferring of the Pater Noster to its place at the end of the Canon of the Mass, and the addition of the words to the Hanc Igitur prayer of the Mass: “Order our days in Thy peace, and cause us to be saved from eternal damnation and to be numbered among the flock of Thy elect.” In the matter of ceremony, he forbade sub-deacons to wear the chasuble and limited deacons to the singing of the Gospel. According to legend, the entire arrangement of our liturgy in both Mass and Office is attributed to him. St. Gregory composed eight of the hymns used in the Divine Office from his day until the post-Vatican II changes. (Primo Dierum omnium et Nocte surgentes vigilemus omnes, Sunday at Matins; Ecce jam noctis tenuatur umbra, Sunday at Lauds; Lucis Creator optime, Sunday at Vespers; Clarum decus jeunii in Lent at Matins; Audi benign Conditor, at Vespers in Lent; Magno salutis gaudio, on Palm Sunday; and Rex Christi factor omnium in Passiontide.) During the same period of time, there had been 68 Gregorian contributions to the Roman Breviary, which is the largest number from one person, after those of St. Augustine. He also played an important role in furthering the liturgical music. He had founded two schools of chant and he himself listened to the boys practice. Of the eight modes ascribed to his name, four probably existed and four more were added as subsidiary modes by him.

Death & Sainthood:

He died on March 12, 604 and was laid to rest in the Portico of St. Peter’s Basilica on the same day. Immediately after his death, Gregory was canonized by popular acclaim. He is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers.