St. Gregory the Dialogist
St. Gregory the Dialogist was born in Rome around 540 to a noble senatorial family and, after serving as prefect of the city, used his inheritance to found seven monasteries, receiving the monastic tonsure at his monastery of the Apostle Andrew.
Elected Pope of Rome in 590 after months of resisting the office, he shepherded the Church through plague and invasion, sent missionaries who converted the English, and gave all his income to housing the poor, often serving them at table himself. His many surviving writings include the Dialogues on the lives and miracles of the Italian fathers (which earned him his epithet), the Pastoral Rule, homilies, and over 800 letters, and the Orthodox Church honors him as compiler of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts served on Lenten weekdays. He reposed on March 12, 604.
No one presumes to teach an art till he has first, with intent meditation, learned it. What rashness is it, then, for the unskilful to assume pastoral authority, since the government of souls is the art of arts!
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.
As the word of God, by the mysteries which it contains, exercises the understanding of the wise, so usually by what presents itself on the outside, it nurses the simple-minded... It is, as it were, a kind of river, if I may so liken it, which is both shallow and deep, wherein both the lamb may find a footing, and the elephant float at large.
I confidently say that whosoever calls himself, or desires to be called, Universal Priest, is in his elation the precursor of Antichrist, because he proudly puts himself above all others.
Troparion · Tone 4
Receiving divine grace from God on high, glorious Gregory, and strengthened with its power, you willed to walk in the path of the Gospel, most blessed one. Therefore you have received from Christ the reward of your labors. Entreat Him that He may save our souls.
Kontakion · Tone 3
Father Gregory, you showed yourself to be an imitator of Christ, the chief Shepherd, guiding the orders of monks to the fold of heaven. You taught the flock of Christ His commandments. Now you rejoice and dance with them in the mansions of heaven.
Saints around March 12
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