St. Gregory the Great

Their story

Gregory was born around 540 into a wealthy and noble Roman family. He received an excellent education and, still in his early thirties, became prefect of Rome, the highest civil office in the city. But he felt drawn to God, and after his father's death he turned the family home into a monastery dedicated to St. Andrew and became a monk himself. He later said these were the happiest years of his life. The pope soon called Gregory into service, ordaining him a deacon and sending him as his representative to Constantinople. In 590, while Rome was suffering from plague and floods, Gregory was elected pope. He did not want the office, but he accepted it and threw himself into the work. He organized food and help for the poor, negotiated peace with the Lombard invaders, reformed the Church's administration and cared for the clergy. He sent St. Augustine and a band of monks to bring the Gospel to England. He called himself "the servant of the servants of God," a title popes still use. Gregory wrote a book on how to be a good pastor, many homilies and a life of St. Benedict. The Church's ancient tradition of chant bears his name, Gregorian chant. He suffered from poor health for much of his life, yet he worked tirelessly until his death in 604. He is a Doctor of the Church and one of only a few popes called "the Great."