Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

READINGS

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13AB, 13CD-14

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

Making known to men your might

and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

The LORD is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.

The LORD lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

REFLECTION

What makes a man just?

When a man's actions are discerned from his conscience to be right and just, then he is just. (CCC 1778)

Pope Gregory I was a just man. He did a lot to help the poor, starving, and sick. He lived in the Medieval time when there was the Plague of Justinian, the first pandemic. He was concerned for those suffering and he gave food, money donations, helped persecuted Jews, and ransomed prisoners. He was also a peacemaker. He was able to bring the barbarians to unify with the Catholic Church.

Gregory was a monk before he became Pope. He worked on revising worship. He wrote prayers which are still used in the Liturgy today. Gregory used the "plain chant" melodies in the Liturgy. The chanting style was named after him, the Gregorian Chant.

Pope St. Gregory was zealous for his Catholic faith and he worked nonstop to do all he could to encourage holiness of God's people and the clergy.

"The proof of love is in the works," said St. Gregory. "Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist."

Let us pray for all priests to be holy and have zeal for the Holy Catholic Church.