He was the first monk to become Pope. On the first of each month, and on the holydays in between, the Pope would assist and oversee the distribution of meat, fish, vegetables, what, corn, oil, cheese, wine and clothing. He forced from the vast papal lands every morsel of food and every bit of wood which could possibly be gathered together to provide for the needs of his impoverished people.
Early in his pontificate, he published his Pastoral Rule, on the duties of a bishop. In , Saint Gregory wrote the four books of Dialogues, which, together with the Pastoral Rule, were the two works most universally read and prized throughout the Middle Ages. The Dialogues provide an excellent history of the times. Through Queen Theodelinda, the wife of the Lombard King Agilulf, he was able to begin the conversion of the Lombard nation and the tempering of their ferocious and cruel natures.
He won France back and began conversions in England. He ordained, early in his pontificate that the first four Ecumenical Councils of the Church should be treated with the respect given to the four Gospels. He worked unceasingly to stamp out heresy. He is known for his magnificent contributions to the Liturgy of the Mass and Office. Saint Gregory the Great died on the twelfth of March, , at the age of sixty-four.
He was canonized immediately after his death. Later, because of the volume, the extraordinary insight and the profundity of his writings, the depth and extent of his learning, and the heroic holiness of his life, the Church gratefully placed him beside Jerome and Ambrose and Augustine. At that time, the Church controlled nearly two thousand square miles of land, overseen by the clergy and used to generate income. Now, instead of selling the produce of the land, Pope Gregory ordered it shipped to Rome and given away for free.
In this way, he saved thousands of people from certain death. Pope Gregory himself refused to eat until his monks returned from their work of handing out food.
Because of his great respect for the poor, it was Pope Gregory and the Church that became the most respected --and obeyed force in Rome and across Italy. From the time of Gregory onwards, the people looked to the Church for government rather than the distant and indifferent emperors in Constantinople. Pope Gregory suffered from arthritis in his last years. He died on March 12, AD. He was immediately proclaimed a saint by means of popular acclaim.
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Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. Federal Tax Identification Number: Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. Toggle navigation. Search Catholic Online. Mary Magdalene. Constitution of the USA. Continue reading about Pope Saint Gregory the Great. Gregory the Enlightener Bl. More Saints Search Search Saints. Trending Saints: St. Josaphat of Polotsk St. Frances Xavier Cabrini St. Francis of Assisi St. Michael the Archangel.
Never Miss any Updates! Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers. Email Address. Popular Saints. Marieann - Starts in 21 hours Daily Readings Mon. We ask you, humbly, to help. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! He was recalled and became abbot, and at the age of 50 was elected pope by the clergy of Rome. He was direct and firm. He removed unworthy priests from office, forbade taking money for many services, emptied the papal treasury to ransom prisoners of the Lombards and to care for persecuted Jews and victims of plague and famine.
He was very concerned about the conversion of England, sending 40 monks from his own monastery. Gregory the Great is known for his reform of the liturgy, for strengthening respect for doctrine. Gregory lived in a time of perpetual strife with invading Lombards and difficult relations with the East.
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