Saint of the Day – 24 April – Saint Gregory (Died c394) Bishop and Confessor of Elvira (near modern Granada) in Spain, Defender of the True Faith against heresies, an writer of extremely elegant and exegetical literary and doctrinal ability, many of his writings and sermons have come down to us. Also known as – Gregory Baeticus.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Elvira in Spain, St Gregory, Bishop and Confessor.”
St Gregory was the first known Bishop of Elvira (Illiberis) near Granada. He was a great defender of the Council of Nicaea and preached against Hosius of Cordova during the disputes on the formulas of Sirmium (357).
He is said to have died around 394. His status in the history of Bishops has been greatly enhanced following research which discovered or identified his writings, often handed down under different names.
Gregory was a writer of great literary and doctrinal skill and his influence is clearly traceable in later writers such as Apringius of Beja, Saint Isidore of Seville, Beatus of Liebàna, etc. His sermons reflect great pastoral zeal and profound piety which lead him to emphasise spiritual and moral themes. St Gregory’s devotion to the humanity of Christ is distinguished.
In 961, his Feast appeared for the first time in the Calendar of Cordoba and Usuard, after his journey to Spain, introduced it into his Martyrology; on the same date (24 April) he is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology.
AnaStpaul 