Pope St. Gregory The Great, Rome, Italy, 6th Century

 

[painting of Pope Saint Gregory]Feastday 3rd September                            

Born 540                                

Died 604

 

 

 

Son of a wealthy Roman senator and Saint Silvia Nephew of Saint Emiliana and Saint Tarsilla. Great-grandson of Pope Saint Felix III. Educated by the finest teachers in Rome. Prefect of Rome for a year, then he sold his possessions, turned his home into a Benedictine monastery, and used his money to build six monasteries in Sicily and one in Rome. Benedictine monk. Upon seeing English children being sold in the Roman Forum, he became a missionary to England. Elected 64th Pope by unanimous acclamation on 3 September 590, the first monk to be chosen. Sent Saint Augustine of Canterbury and a company of monks to evangelize England, and other missionaries to France, Spain, and Africa. Collected the melodies and plain chant so associated with him that they are now known as Gregorian Chants. One of the four great Doctors of the Latin Church. Wrote seminal works on the Mass and Office. 1

 

1. Taken from the Patron Saints Index at http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintg02.htm

 

“Before the birth of her child the mother of the antichrist will announce the advent of a Messias who will restore great prosperity to mankind” 1

 

“After the birth of Antichrist most of mankind will be such as corrupt the word; and the sheep shall be changed into godless or fallen into heresy. Churches will be empty and dilapidated, priests will have little zeal for souls and pious people will be few. Most people will be given up to all imaginable vices” 2

 

References

1. Pope St Gregory the Great, Morales 23, 15 as quoted by Desmond A. Birch Trial Tribulation and Triumph: Before, During and After Antichrist, (Queenship Publishing. 1996) p 459

2. Rev R. Gerald. Culleton The Prophets and Our Times  (Tan Books and Publishers 1941) p 108