Sainted Gregory Dialogus, Pope of Rome
Commemorated on March 12
Sainted Gregory
Dialogus, Pope of Rome, was born in Rome in about the year 540. His
grandfather was Pope Felix, and his mother Sylvia and aunts Tarsilla and
Emiliana were likewise enumerated by the Roman Church to the rank of saints.
Having received a most excellent secular education, he attained to high
governmental positions. And leading a God-pleasing life, he yearned with all
his soul for monasticism. After the death of his father, Saint Gregory used up
all his inheritance on the establishing of six monasteries. At Rome he founded
a monastery in the name of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and having
exchanged his capacious chambers for a narrow cell, he accepted there monastic
tonsure. Afterwards, on a commission entrusted to him by Pope Pelagius II,
Saint Gregory lived for a long while in Byzantium. And there he wrote his
"Exposition on the Book of Job". After the demise of Pope Pelagius,
Saint Gregory was chosen to the Roman cathedra-see. But reckoning himself
unworthy, over the course of seven months he would not consent to accept so
responsible a service, and having acceded only through the entreaties of the
clergy and flock, he finally accepted the consecration.
Wisely leading the
Church, Sainted Gregory worked tirelessly at propagating the Word of God. Saint
Gregory compiled in the Latin language the rite of the "Liturgy of the
Pre-Sanctified Gifts", which before him was known of only in the verbal tradition.
Affirmed by the Sixth OEcumenical Council, this liturgical rite was accepted by
all the Orthodox Church.
He zealously
struggled against the Donatist heresy; he likewise converted to the True Faith
the inhabitants of Brittany – pagans and Goths, adhering to the Arian heresy.
Saint Gregory left
after him numerous works of writing. And after the appearance of his book,
"Dialogues concerning the Life and Miracles of the Italian Fathers"
("Dialogi de vita et miraculis patrum Italiorum"), the saint became
called "Dialogus", i.e. "teaching by dialogue
conversations". Particular reknown was enjoyed by his "Pastoral
Rule" (or "Concerning Pastoral Service" – "Liber regulae
pastoralis"). In this work Saint Gregory describes from every side the
model of the true pastor. There have likewise reached us his letters (848),
comprised of moral guidances.
Sainted Gregory
headed the Church over the course of 13 years, concerning himself over all the
needs of his flock. He was characterised by an extraordinary love of poverty,
for which he was vouchsafed a vision of the Lord Himself.
Pope Saint Gregory I
the Great, as he is otherwise known, died in the year 604, and his relics rest
in the cathedral of the holy Apostle Peter in the Vatican.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
