Pope Gregory I

Saint Gregory 1 the Great, generally known as Pope Saint Gregory 1 was pope from the 3rd September, 590 till his death. He was born in the year 540. He was one of the few Popes from monastic background at that time. He was a Doctor of the church and a great Latin Father of the church.

He was born in the year 540(approximately) in a wealthy Roman family. His family is a devoted family and his grand father had been Pope and his father worked for a church. His mother was a saint and his sisters were nuns. An an young man, Gregory took interest in Roman political life and he had worked as Prefect of the city. But after his father’s death, Gregory converted their villa into a monastery which was dedicated to the apostle Saint Andrew. He worked there as a monk.

In the mean time, Pope Pelagius 2 asked Gregory’s help in trying to reduce schism of the Three Chapters in northern Italy. In the year 579 Pope Pelagius 2 chose Gregory as his ambassador to imperial court in Constantinople.

In Constantinople, Gregory gained everybody’s attention by contradicting Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople’s publication. When he returned to Rome, he worked as secretary to Pope Pelagius 2 and later was elected as the Pope to succeed Pope Pelagius 2.

He made his presence felt as a Pope and did many works which got lot of praises and acclaims from everyone. After he became Pope in the year 590, one of his first works was writing some letters praising the lives of monks. Gregory is still known as the one who re energized missionary work of the Church among barbarian people of north Europe.

He is the only Pope between fifth and eleventh centuries whose writings were stored to form copies of it later. Many of his writings were stored and published later. Some of them are Dialogues, Commentary on Job, The Rule for Pastors. A total of about 850 letters were retrieved from his papal register and are considered as invaluable sources.

He was also famous for the charity work done by him. He got a hospital built next to his house to help poor people. He used to do arrangements for poor people to have food at his own expenditure. He also built many charitable houses and he always tried to help poor and needy people in every way he could.

He died on the 12th of March, 604 and immediately after his death, he was canonized in a grand manner. Appreciation for him remained very strong in England even after his death. Full length works about his life were written. He is still seen as the patron of England and he will always be remembered.