+ St. Gregory was born at Rome about the year 540, the son of a wealthy Roman senator, who later renounced the world and became one of the seven deacons of Rome. After Gregory received his thorough education, Emperor Justin appointed him, in 574, Chief Magistrate of Rome, though he was only thirty-four years of age. After the death of his father, he built six monasteries in Sicily and founded a seventh in his own house in Rome, which became the Benedictine Monastery of St. Andrew. Here, he himself assumed the monastic habit in 575 at the age of thirty-five. After the death of Pelagius, St. Gregory was chosen Pope by the unanimous consent of priests and people. Now began those labors which merited for him the title of "Great." His zeal extended over the entire known world, he was in contact with all the Churches of Christendom and, in spite of his bodily sufferings and innumerable labors he found time to compose a great number of works. He is known above all for his magnificent contributions to the Liturgy of the Mass and the Divine Office – especially in the area of plain chant and music. He is one of the four great Doctors of the Latin Church (along with St. Ambrose, St. Augustine and St. Jerome). He died March 12, 604 and is the patron of teachers!
The gospel passage today speaks of the humility with which this "great" pope lived his life. Let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant, says Jesus the Lord. Gregory of Rome thought of himself as nothing other than a lowly servant of God's beloved people. He must have been very humble in order to be considered now so great!
As St. Paul preached to the Corinthians, so we preach Christ the Light shining in darkness; as St. Gregory preached that same Light, so we preach it today: Let light shine out of darkness, let it shine into the hearts of all so as to bring the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ!
And then, the problems that we face in our world will have a much better chance at being dealt with and solved in a convincing and permanent sort of way! When there are no shadows to distort a problem, then it can be more easily settled!
Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations!
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