Today, we celebrate the memorial of Pope Gregory the Great. Pope Gregory is one the greatest popes in the history of the Church, but he is also the patron of teachers.
He was born in Rome about the year 540. After the death of his father, he built seven monasteries and then took the habit of a Benedictine monk at the age of 35. He was chosen pope and then later came to merit the title of Great. His predecessor, Pope Pelagius II died from a plague.
He had a great love for the poor and tried to do all that was possible to help them. Everyday he would invite 12 poor people to be guests at his table, and he himself was accustomed to pouring the water over their hands to wash them. Pope Gregory humbly served the Church and so took upon the title, “Servant of the Servants of God”.
As the servant of servants, tradition tells us that, once he elected, he organized a triumphal procession to the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin in order to serve the people, by calling upon the Blessed Virgin Mary to stop a plague. He himself carried a picture of Our Lady, painted by St. Luke. When the procession came to the mausoleum of Hadrian, Pope Gregory and all the people saw the Archangel Michael standing on its summit in the act of sheathing a flaming sword, symbolizing that the plague was over.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, in Her Magnificat said, “For He has looked upon His servant in Her lowliness and all ages shall call me blessed.” She is truly THE Servant of Servants, as She served the Lord like no other person could, because She served Him as His Mother.
Today let us call upon St. Gregory and especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we choose to serve Jesus in each other.
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