San Gregorio Magno, Saint of the day for September 3

(circa 540 - March 12, 604)

The story of San Gregorio Magno
Gregory was the prefect of Rome before the age of 30. After five years in office he resigned, founded six monasteries on his Sicilian estate and became a Benedictine monk in his own home in Rome.

Ordained a priest, Gregory became one of the pope's seven deacons and served for six years in the East as a papal representative in Constantinople. He was recalled to become abbot, but at the age of 50 he was elected pope by the clergy and the Romans.

Gregory was direct and resolute. He removed unworthy priests from office, prohibited the taking of money for many services, emptied the papal treasury to redeem the prisoners of the Lombards and to take care of the persecuted Jews and the victims of plague and famine. He was very concerned about the conversion of England, sending 40 monks from his monastery. He is known for his liturgy reform and for strengthening respect for doctrine. Whether he was largely responsible for the revision of "Gregorian" chant is controversial.

Gregory lived in a period of constant contention with the invasion of the Lombards and of difficult relations with the East. When Rome itself was under attack, he interviewed the Lombard king.

His book, Pastoral Care, on the duties and qualities of a bishop, has been read for centuries after his death. He described bishops primarily as physicians whose primary duties were preaching and discipline. In his down-to-earth preaching, Gregory was adept at applying the daily gospel to the needs of his listeners. Called "the Great," Gregory had a place with Augustine, Ambrose and Jerome, as one of the four key doctors of the Western Church.

An Anglican historian wrote: “It is impossible to conceive what the confusion, the lawlessness, the chaotic state of the Middle Ages would have been without the medieval papacy; and of the medieval papacy, the real father is Gregory the Great “.

Reflection
Gregory was content to be a monk, but when asked, he gladly served the Church in other ways. He sacrificed his preferences in many ways, especially when he was called to be Bishop of Rome. Once called to public service, Gregory fully devoted his considerable energies to this work. Gregory's description of the bishops as doctors fits well with Pope Francis' description of the Church as a “field hospital”.