Friday, September 3, 2021
Pope St. Gregory the Great was born to an influential Roman family around in the middle of the 6th century. His great great grandfather was Pope Felix III and his father was a Roman prefect and senator. This was a difficult time in Rome due to plagues and barbarian attacks. Gregory was extremely intelligent and became a Roman prefect at age 33. He later turned his family home into a monastery. He was later elected pope.
He preferred the quiet life in the monastery to that of being pope, but he accepted his new vocation anyway. He called himself a servant of God. His writings are extensive and some of his influences are still seen today. He donated generously to the poor and called deacons to service of those in need. When famine struck Rome he ordered that the assets of the Church be used to give relief to the people in the area. And he is famously known for establishing the form of music now known as Gregorian chant.
St. Gregory the Great is the patron saint of musicians, singers, teachers, and students. His feast day is September 3.
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