Sun, Oct 9, 2011
ST. GREGORY THE GREAT (540-604) The wealthy son of a Roman senator, and youthful chief magistrate of Rome, he became a simple monk. This priest, theologian, writer was an abbot, a founder of monasteries, a Church diplomat and pope. As pope his liturgical, theological, doctrinal and pastoral reforms would forever give him the name "great". He initiated the missionary movement which converted Great Britain, thus opening the English world to Christian faith and culture. Known universally as the "Father of the Medieval World", he became a Doctor of the Church and "Patron of Teachers". St. Gregory answers questions on monasticism and society, natural disasters and divine intervention, the authentic role of bishops and the spiritual formation required for them to become servants of the servants of God, the care of the sick and poor, miracles, cultural and political corruption, icons and eastern Christianity, the role of guardian angels, the recovery of a sense of the supernatural, the sacredness of human life in a secular age, the meaning of fear of the Lord, of sin and repentance, the spirit of the Liturgy, the centrality of the Eucharist, liturgical music and authentic reform, Christian discipleship and leadership, how to live the moral and spiritual life.