St Gregory, 540-604. Doctor of Hymnology, Feast Sept. 3rd.

It is rather unfair to title Gregory, Doctor of Hymnology. Father Christopher Rengers, OFM, Cap., listed in the doctoral sources, named Gregory: "The Greatest of the Great." However, many catholics remember Gregorian chant. They identify with him through hymns, singing and liturgical music. St Cecilia is also one of the church's early martrys and the patronness of music, musicians and liturgical music. The Doctor of the Church, St Ephraem, is also acclaimed as one the key founders of liturgical music. Their links are below:

Saint Cecilia

St. Ephraem

Gregory was multi-talented in numerous ways. He served as Pope, Bishop of Rome, pastor, papal nuncio, abbot, monk, deacon, missionary, Roman senator, and Prefect of Rome-the highest office in the country. He was gifted, a superb administrator, and perhaps the best Rome ever had, and certainly among the doctors.

He was one of the first popes to send out missionaries to other countries. In fact, Gregory, himself, was a missionary to England. As pope, he sent missionaries to France, Spain and Africa.

His mother was St. Silvia. Gregory's father sent him to the best teachers. All that he received from his parents and God, he gave back wholeheartedly. Thus we see an example of riches bestowed, received, remembered, shared and given back to the "Giver of all good gifts."

This Pope gave up his family, employment, home, and property. He even gave up his own personal calling as a monk- for a higher calling-service to the church. He was awesome in his universal care and concern for the members of the church, and all of God's children.

Are you at times impatient with others? Do you have intense pain and impatience with yourself in bearing that pain? Perhaps Gregory can alleviate your pain and impatience as he has done with others. Read about Gregory and pray to God with him.

According to tradition, Gregory suffered from various diseases. We can identify with him, now, with our pain, even though he is in heaven. Others have called upon him to help them in their need. The greater your impatience toward others, or yourself, and the greater your need, than that is all the more reasons to call upon Gregory the Great. The greater your devotion to the saints, the greater will be your results. Other people have received consolations from Gregory through their prayers to him. They have also received messages. It is not too common that God permits heavenly visions from the saints but it happens if you are devote and plead your case and causes to them, trusting exclusively only in the will of God in the answer.

St Gregory was tremendously influential in stopping a pestilence through a holy procession. He will be even more influential in heaven towards you when you pray to God through holy devotions and petitions. But, we must beg and entreat him earnestly. Read about St. Seraphina's life in Secular Saints listed in the sources and understand how Gregory helped her. She had a great devotion to him. This devotion was perhaps greater than any creature that ever lived?

He compared bishops of the church to physicians. His book on Pastoral Care and many of his other writings are invaluable aids for leaders of the church. This book gained popularity, not only among pastors but also, among kings and emperors of his day and later generations. The book is most practical and he admonished the taciturn and the talkative most discretely.

Because of the chaotic times in which he lived in the early medieval ages, Gregory was a strong enforcer of discipline. He would be the first to admit that the greatest gift to God is the surrender of one's own wants, wishes, and whims. "To renounce what one has is a minor thing; but to renounce what one is, that is asking a lot". This is taken from a homily of St. Gregory.

God moved him around in various positions. However, he had to cooperate by being flexible, humble, open, and docile. This is not always easy. Only those who live in union with God really know how God touches them. It is not always a visible sign. Much trust, surrender, and obedience is necessary. Christ is the model for Christians including popes. They too have to be obedient. Christ was obedient for thirty years to his mother and father and submitted to them.

Gregory and Leo are the only popes to become doctors of the church. This amazing fact should help us realize that the doctor category is reserved for only the most exceptional wise and holy personages. It has nothing to do with brains or bravery. It is not for extraordinary leaders but graced and gifted leaders who are imprisoned with the Spirit of the living God aiming to lead with prudence, holy example, and concern for God's creatures.

It is very easy to criticize the head of the catholic church. With innumerable problems and enormous responsibilities the Vatican duties will easily crush anyone unless God protects and guards the Pope. Gregory did not have issues as celibacy, woman's ordination, and ecumenism. The concerns of primacy, pluralism, inculturation, or decentralization did not exist. New times challenge the Pope with subsidiarity, collegiality, and counterculturalism. Gregory did not have to face problems such as population control, abortion, and capital punishment. Yet, he had equally tremendous challenges.

During his lifetime, brigands, pestilence, and famine besieged Rome. Huns, Goths, and Lombards plundered the city. Fear, alarm, and despair gripped Rome. Its population plummeted from a million to 15,000. The soul of the "Eternal City" had experienced decadence and depravity from corruption and bloodshed. One can not possibly imagine how terrible the situation Gregory inherited when he became pope. His predecessor, Pelagius II, had died from a great pestilence. To help understand the tremendous and nearly impossible challenges that Gregory faced, read the link on The Life of St Gregory the Great by Sister Goddard Clark, MICM, located near the end of this section.

The church was leaderless from a human perspective. Gregory at this time was a holy monk and he certainly didn't want to become the pope. However, his holiness and leadership as abbot and his strong previous leadership role in the country were well known. The people wanted a strong, holy leader. They wanted to have him as their pope. Gregory panicked. He hid himself outside the city in order not to be found. However, he was providentially discovered and afterwards consecrated and enthroned as Pope by the people and the clergy.

Our pontiff faced his challenges confidently trusting that God would lead him to do his best guiding the people of God. His spirit of concern is a quality that can inspire us to help others. Pray to Gregory that your responsibilities and duties, small or large, be achieved through the same Spirit that enabled Gregory to accomplish his mission for the church and its members.

As leader of the church, he made laws governing its members. Gregory shared and spread the faith of the church because of his belief. He, it is noted from other Christian authors, was always humble. His wealthy parents and his upbringing allowed him to share not only his faith but also his own personal possessions. Before he joined the monastery he sold all his own property and used the money to build six monasteries in Sicily and one in Rome. Gregory continued his generosity and other kind deeds to the poor throughout his life after he consecrated his life to God.

He removed unworthy priests from office. He gave monies to ransom prisoners. He cared for persecuted Jews and victims of plague and famine. He was an outstanding reformer, writer, preacher, and enforcer of discipline. Gregory showed us how to imitate Jesus' words more by deeds done than by preaching or talking about it. He exhorts preachers to proclaim in their deeds all that they are about to speak.

Gregory the Great is noted for the many books he wrote especially on the liturgy of the mass and the office - the official prayer of the church for its priests. He is the Patron of choirboys and singers. For that reason he obviously contributed to the singing aspects. Having also lived as a monk, he apparently was involved in chant or hymns as that is most common in the monastery. The Gregorican University and other landmarks in Rome and throughout Christendom are named after him. For a splendid discovering of Rome, her popes, her churches, its history and legends read: A Catholic Guide to Rome by Frank J. Korn.

Not without reason is St. Gregory, Doctor of the Church, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, patron of many, monk, missionary and pastor of Rome, called the Great. He did great things for God and humankind with great courage and fortitude. The challenges and difficulties we experience in any office, position, or job are frequently God's way of urging us to turn to the Creator for support and strength. Gregory allowed God to bless him with great gifts to share with God's church and its members especially the advancement and spread of that faith. He is a model for us to be assured that God will do the same for us with our own difficulties. However, we need to cooperate, surrender, and be docile to the movements of grace.

The church flourished under Gregory in spite of a tumultuous period when Lombards were attacking Rome and strife was rampant. The Western Church and the Eastern Church were having many problems and controversies. He held the church together though his great courage and surrender to God's will for him throughout his many callings and challenges. Despite our hardships, conflicts, and confusion, God extends comfort, resolutions, and insight into our challenges, anguishes, and problems.

I once read that at least thirty popes have been martyred for the faith. The periodical The Pope Speaks is an excellent resource. Only by treasuring our catholic heritage and showing deep respect for our Holy Father, and all civil or religious authority for that matter, can we begin to fathom God's church. Over twelve hundred papal speeches and catholic church documents are available through your computer at the link below:

Vatican, The Holy See

The Adoremus Bulletin is another liturgy music site. See link below

Adoremus Vol. V, No.3-May 1999 cites ten useful Catholic Web sites. A more recent issue lists nearly 30 sites on their link page.

Another delightful resource to consider reading is Crossing the Threshold of Hope. This book written by the Pope in 1994 was a best seller. Perhaps it will become a classic because of its perennial message of hope. There are powerful messages on the subject of hope everywhere. We see them in life everyday, on our TV screens, and in the arts and movies. Three films that I enjoyed on the subject of hope are The Mission, Braveheart, and The Shawshank Redemption. Hope is for all especially for those who think that hope is impossible for them.

Those who cling to hope despite all the odds will win in the end. Hope is always in the heart of the living even where there is deep pain and hurt. Hope speaks of the future and is always optimistic. Hope can be found everywhere except in hell. Those who live in hell abandon all hope.

With Gregory and Leo, our Pope wants to inspire the virtue of hope. Crossing into hope for some is easy. For others it is a gigantic step. It might be compared to what the Astronaut Neil Armstrong said when he took his first step on the moon: "One small step for man and one giant step for mankind".

Some of us are born and bred in hope. They, it would appear, are blessed. Others enter the world quite the opposite: disabled, in poverty, unwanted, and with parents lacking solid gospel values. It would appear, this group are not blessed. However, this is not the case by our holy God-the best providential Provider of all. Only our hope in our faith will enable us to believe that God is perfect. Thus we see that hope is a gift that enables us to understand God and cling to the Creator. This will happen despite contrary evidences and contradictions that surround us. We are sometimes tempted and challenged to deny the marvelous truth that God infinitely cares for all with immense love.

Crossing the Threshold might be compared to a journey across the universe. Hope is deeper and nobler than the cosmos. Therefore, it does not matter when or how you start. What's important is that you actually take the first step in hope. You must, indeed, start not in theory but in deed- in reality! Hope is such a pure theological virtue that it is supremely pleasing and precious in the "Eyes of God". It is almost as if God were looking into a mirror and seeing himself when we possess hope and exercise this extraordinary theological virtue.

Exercising hope captures God. God is stunned and mesmerized by all resplendent and boundless beauty. Entering the virtue of hope is truly traveling into God boundlessly. It is immersion and supernatural intoxication. True hope will make you heady, quench all your appetites and plunge you in joy, quiet ecstasy and peace. Therefore, the important truth of hope is to cross over and that means travel or exercise. Life is a spiritual journey. We exercise our mind when we hope. We hope when we surrender. We hope when we abandon our ways to God.

Nissan Cars offers a pleasing ad that states life is a journey, enjoy the ride. We sometimes travel by car. Hope for Christians is the same: start, exercise and enjoy hope because the road ahead may be long, bumpy and involve delays and pains. The threshold might be compared to the vestibule or foyer of a huge and glorious palace. It is the antechamber to Heaven. Once the door is open, you are in. It is just a matter of time before you can browse and taste and see the other delights and features that have been prepared by the King and Queen who have invited you.

Hope is the entrance into Heaven. That is why the church places emphases on hope. It unlocks the heavenly kingdom. Hope will challenge you with crosses sooner or later. Hope is camouflaged, celestial consumption. Indulge in it because it will ravish and make you relish all the crosses you encounter. Genuine hope is total and unconditional abandonment, trust, and surrender to the Spirit of Love who is the source of hope and happiness both now and throughout eternity. Read the Holy Father's book in the anticipation and hope that the Holy Spirit will enable you to cross more deeply into the threshold of hope and enjoy life's journey

God bestows abundant blessings on us through multiple and often unknown sources. The popes, especially St Gregory, and St Leo, and many more past leaders of the church, are known sources and blessings. The writings of our present pope and other gifted and talented, virtuous writers are a fine example particularly in the area of spiritual hope. Christianity is an encounter with a real, dynamic divine person: Jesus. It's not only laws, commandments, and obligations that empower us. These help but the real power is from above with a real, powerful Person. And we have three of Them. One for our spirit, One for our humanity and One for our Father through providential design. Within our Godhead, we have a tremendous mystery with three distinct Persons and yet only One holy God.

By exercising faith, hope and charity, as Gregory, daily we take on the mind and attitude of Christ. By being humble and obedient to those God designates over us through divine providence, we will be guided through God's spirit and the church. Hope is relying on heavenly help. Faith is believing in heavenly help. Charity is enjoying heavenly help and living it. God uses everything to help all creatures and creation. For all creatures, from the least significant to the person who sits on the chair of Peter, heavenly help is a guiding hand on our shoulders. It supports, sustains and guides each member of the church on our journey despite the pain, hardship and severe limitations we all encounter.

St Gregory, among all the doctors, has guided the church and each of its members by giving us a holy and humble example to look up to and follow with great expectations and hope. Great will be our joy and destiny when we open ourselves to be moved by God's Holy Spirit. As we reflect on Gregory's life we will understand and see how God can place and use us in our individual calling today. We will also grasp what other roles God may be calling us in the future. The more we are open to God's leadership, the more God will lead us and bestow on us divine favors. We will be amazed in ways impossible to imagine or hope to achieve. Hope affords us divine strength. The inspiration that Gregory has given to the church and its members of old is ours today. It is anew, alive and active when we exercise our faith, hope and love to all as Gregory did so generously and continually throughout his life in humble service to all.

Although the popes from history had to be immersed in mundane and worldly affairs, those who best guided the church had their hearts in heaven as their mind focused on the earth. Popes, past and present, have great authority and power. Gregory, who is often quoted by the Angelic Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas, wielded great power because he never attributed it to himself. Power is an attribute of God, according to Gregory, that is generally administered by holy spirits called angels. The writings of Gregory especially from his "Forty Gospel Homilies" are packed with power and beauty regarding these celestial intelligences. The essential nature of both angels and humans according to our Doctor Pope, allow us to know God. Both, angels and people, have supernatural intelligence. Angels have only intelligence, no body. We have intelligence and a body.

St Gregory the Great believed that each person is destined to join one of the ranks of the nine choirs of angels, not as an angel but as God's children by cooperation with his grace and perseverance. Listen and observe this most consoling truth that he describes of those human beings that could eventually share the ranks of the Seraphim (top tier of angels). I quote this from Janice T. Connell's enchanting book, Angel Power, which is taken from Gregory's Gospel Homilies already quoted above.

Some(people) are set on fire by supernatural contemplation, and are filled with eager desire for their Creator alone. They no longer long for anything in this world. They are nourished by love for eternity alone; they thrust aside all earthly things; their hearts transcend every temporal thing; they love, they are on fire, they find rest in this fire; loving sets them on fire, and they enkindle others by their speech: those they touch with their words they instantly set on fire with love for God. What then should I call these people whose heart, which have been turned into fire, are shining and burning, but Seraphim?

They enlighten the heart's eyes with regard to things on high and purify them of the rust of vices by tearful compunction. Where do these who burn so brightly with love for their Creator receive their calling's portion except among the number of the Seraphim?

With God's light, we can see the power of Gregory's words. They are incredible, provocative, and a lesson for us to know and share. According to Connell's book and Gregory's message, we share in that same power. Listen to some of her words. "The more we pray, the more we are able to love. Angel power is a pure gift of God's Love. In prayer we access Angel Power. Those who access Angel Power experience God serving us sunshine to warm us. Those who access Angel Power see God's Smiling Face in the crystal clear lake that bears the fishes to feed our nations. Those who access Angel Power understand that God is fashioning answers to the disease, pollution, and war that plague the nations of the earth as he knits each tiny baby in the womb of a cooperating mother."

Sure the Pope wields power but every Christians has the power to be as powerful, influential and far reaching as the great Gregory. Everyone who is hungry for power and love ought to explore reading this humble and great teacher of mankind.

Perhaps it was because of Gregory's faith in God and God's creatures including the angels that God favored him with help from above. Therefore, it was not necessarily because he was pope, but due to the devotion and prayers of God's people and his faith, that God favored him with a vision of St Michael the Archangel, the leader of the Angels, during one of his devotional processions. This event is commemorated even today in a place in Rome called Castel Sant' Angelo. There you will see a huge statue of St Michael.

Another Pope at another time in church history composed this beautiful and powerful prayer to Holy Michael. This prayer can never be said enough for strength, consolation and confidence.

Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. Rebuke him, oh God, we humbly pray and do thou O Prince of the heavenly host drive into Hell, Satan, and all his angels who roam the earth seeking the ruin of souls.

We can be sure that Gregory also had a devotion to his own guardian angel that Jesus mentioned in the Gospel. This Guarding Angel prayer is a classic.

Angel of God
My guardian dear
To whom God's love
Commits me here.
Ever this day
Be at my side.
To light and guard
To rule and guide.
Amen.

Perhaps we should not think about Gregory as "The Great" or as the Pope. That can turn us off or intimidate us. The office of Pope happened to be his during the stop on his journey to God. Gregory had many roles and in each he identifies with each of us. The poor, inconspicuous, the sick, the powerful, the rich, the clergy, the diseased, the missionaries, the contemplative and the secular were duties he engaged in. We might recall that Gregory was a civil statesman of ancient Rome first. He listened, he prayed and God showed him the way. The Almighty and his angels will do no less for us according to the writings of Gregory. God's power will also be ours as it is with the Pope, his church and members in addition to all of God's angels. What is required from us is to humbly pray and petition God that we become obedient to the Almighty's omnipotent will.

Gregory the Great considered the Lord's mother the greatest of all creatures. The most blessed and ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, can be called by this name, "mountain". Yes, she was a mountain, who by the dignity of her election has completely surpassed the height of every elect creature.

Gregory, although he was the pope, found it normal to write about apparition stories. Without considering whether this story is true or not, the faithful during Gregory's time considered it most ordinary to experience the presence of the Virgin from the other side. The pope found it normal to talk about it. Devotions to Mary and the saints are to be considered praiseworthy, justified and encouraged.

We can be assured that the same Spirit that guided Gregory, guides all those who encounter Jesus Christ. Another pope, in particular, that I want to mention, who lived in my lifetime and who is recognized as a "Blessed" today, September 3rd, 2000 AD is good Blessed John XXIII. God used John as he used Gregory to call and open the Second Vatican Council. This event ushered in immense reform and renewal. It marked the theme of a universal call to holiness for all God's people.

St Gregory wrote extensively on moral and theological subjects. With the church's new call to holiness and living a new state of grace, it would be fitting in closing with a comment on this subject from our last pope doctor who lived over 1500 years ago. It is take from his feast day on September 3rd found in the Magnificat.

What can "abandoning ourselves" mean? If we abandon ourselves, where are we to go outside of ourselves? And who is it who goes, if we forsake ourselves?

We are one thing in the nature with which we were created, and another when we have fallen into sin; what we have done is one thing, what we have become is another. Let us abandon the selves we have become by sinning and let us continue to be the selves we have become by grace. Think of those who are proud-if they have turned to Christ and become humble they have abandoned themselves; those of unrestrained desires who have changed to a life of self-restraint, have certainly denied what they were. Misers, those who use to seize what belongs to others, but who have stopped trying to get ahead and learned to be generous with what belongs to themselves, have beyond all doubt abandoned themselves. They are now the persons they were created to be. It is written, 'Change the wicked and they will be no more'. The wicked who have changed will be no more, not because they will altogether cease to exist in their sinful state.

We abandon ourselves, we renounce ourselves, when we escape from what we were in our old state, and strive toward what we are called to be in our new one--Saint Gregory the Great.

Links associated with Gregory:
      http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintg02.htm

Monastery of Christ in the desert

http://newadvent.org/fathers

This link is extensive regarding his letters:
      http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-12/Npnf2-12-227.htm#TopOfPage

http://www.cin.org/greggrea.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06780a.htm

This link has beautiful music:
      http://www.saint-gregory.org/

Francis Koerber, Composer, Music Ministry Director and Ministries related to Sacred Music. His sites and contributions can be heard and seen on the following sites that include: Requiem of the Nations, Requiem Aeternum and Mass of the Unborn-for reconciliaton and healing:

http://www.myopus.com

A site that offers unique Gregorian Chant CDs : Marian Hymns, Vespers, Matins, Benediction Hymns, Kyriale, Mass Propers, Divine Office, etc. They are beautiful, professionally edited, and not available elsewhere. Contains lyrics (and English translations) to many famous Chant pieces, free Chant downloads, and more content is being added on a daily basis! See link below:

www.chantCD.com

Another beautiful site with sacred music.

http://jeff.ostrowski.cc/productions/summi/



A music ministry plus:
      http://www.francescoproductions.com/

Gregory's Life:
      http://www.catholicism.org/pages/greg.htm
      

      http://www.catholicmusicnetwork.com/contact/artist_inquiries.asp
      http://www.catholicmusicnetwork.com/cmn_cd_detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=10131
      http://www.catholicmusicnetwork.com/cmn_cd_detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=10133

I have read and quote that: "The universal church in its general revision of the Roman Missal in 1969, essentially retracted the assertion Pope Gregory the Great made in a sermon in 591: that she whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John called Mary (of Bethany), we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark." That was how the church viewed Mary Magdalen then...But Mary Magdalen's voice is being heard more and more now.

St. Gregory the Great: An Introduction - Early Church Father & Doctor of the Church - A ministry of Dr. Marcellino D' Ambrosio>

Tossed by Waves and Storms: Gregory the Great on Contemplation In a Word of Action by Edward C. Sellner, PhD was published in Spiritual Life , A Journal of Contemporary Spiritual in its Winter 2004 edition. This is a Catholic Quarterly listed in the Doctoral Sources and is published in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter by the Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars, Inc.

This will be included on this site eventually and is a succinct 16 pages summary of Gregory and his detailed struggle in balancing prayer and action during his life, closing with his great leadership as pope in one of the most turbulent times in the history of the Church. The writer’s pithy, yet scholarly, article summarizes an all encompassing and an exciting read and insight into the real St Gregory. He reveals with great clarity how he was moved and directed into the amazing leadership of the Church. Through prayer and action, Gregory, who as the first, monk-pope and the first pope-doctor in elevation, grounded and won for the Church, innumerable achievements and spiritual accolades. This balancing of prayer and action, despite incredible physical and spiritual storms that the Church and the times were experiencing, will show how Gegory kept his heart and spirit immerse in love, and fortify with God’s courage through the delicate juggling of prayer and action. It allowed him to accomplish all that God’s wanted him to do with Jesus’ own sacred mind and spirit as his dear son despite the many pains and sorrows that is always inevitable in life and death. It will gain for you insight on how you too can do the same as Gregory, through trials, crosses and tests. It will also comfort all of God's children with his mercy, peace and intimate friendship. Prayer and action will always move us by God's spirit and gentle love the more we humbly ourselves with prayer and humility and act good toward others and our responsibilities as Gregory did daily.