Thought for the Day – 3 September – The Memnorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Father & Doctor of the Church
By his writings, St Gregory is one of the Four Fathers of the Latin Church and the influence of his writings dominated the Middle Ages. His Pastoral Care, became the pastoral manual of later centuies and his Moralia laid the foundation for medieval spirtuality.
In his thirteen years as Pope, this “servant of the servants of God”, crowded in a lifetime.
He died in 604, sick and worn out, still dictating letters on his deathbed. He was buried at St Peter’s and his epitaph called him “the great consul of God.”
St Gregory shows the critical importance of leadership and the fantastic things that a good leader can accomplish. He influenced every aspect of religious life and is with good reason called “the Great”.
His life shows how important one man’s witness can be.
We are “one man” too – the tiny bit we do might seem inconsequential – but God works in mysterious ways and His Hand covers all the earth – our tiny bit could well be spread by that Hand!
St Gregory the Great, Servant of the Servants, pray for us!
AnaStpaul 