Gregory was born around 540 in Rome. Although the Western Roman Empire had collapsed long before his birth, many ancient Roman families still commanded great wealth and influence in the city and he was born into one such family. His father was a senator and a Prefect of Rome.
When Gregory was just 2 years old, a bubonic plague swept through the region. It was the most severe outbreak of deadly disease the world had ever known and remained the worst such incident until the Black Death in the 14th century. About a 1/3 of the population in Italy was wiped out by the disease. In addition, a barbarian group sacked Rome when he was 6 years old.
Gregory was well educated and excelled as he became an expert in law. By the age of 33, he had become the Prefect of Rome.
After his father’s death, he had converted his family’s villa into a monastery which still stands as the San Gregorio Magno al Celio. As a monk, he was hard and strict.
In 590, Pope Pelagius II died and Gregory was proclaimed pope by acclamation. It is not something he wanted as he preferred the monastic life instead but accepted the burden nevertheless.
He was famous for the emphasis he placed on missionary work, sending out to bring many to Jesus and into the Church. Any clergy who were unwilling to go into the streets and help the poor were replaced. Assets of the Church were liquidated to provide income for alms. He would refuse to eat until missionaries returned from their work of handing out food and made certain to dine with a dozen poor people at each meal. He also made changes to the mass, some of which remain today.
Because of his great respect for the poor, it was Pope Gregory and the Church that became the most respected and obeyed force in Rome and across Italy. From his time onwards, the people looked to the Church for government rather than the distant and indifferent emperors. To this day, his relics remain in St. Peter’s Basilica.
He is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers.
His feast day is September 3
For God’s Glory.
