St. Gregory, born in Rome about the year 540, was the son of
Gordianus, a wealthy senator, who later renounced the world and became one of
the seven deacons of Rome. After he had acquired the usual thorough education,
Emperor Justin the Younger appointed him, in 574, Chief Magistrate of Rome,
though he was only thirty-four years of age. After the death of his father, Gregory built six monasteries in Sicily and founded a
seventh in his own house in Rome, which became the Benedictine Monastery of St.
Andrew. Here, he himself assumed the monastic habit in 575, at the age of
thirty-five.
After the death of Pelagius, St. Gregory was chosen Pope by
the unanimous consent of priests and people. Now began those labors which
merited for him the title of Great. His zeal extended over the entire known
world. He was in contact with all the Churches of
Christendom and, in spite of his bodily sufferings, and innumerable labors, he found
time to compose a great number of works. He is known above all for
his magnificent contributions to the Liturgy of the Mass and Office. The
mainstream form of Western plainchant, standardized in the late 9th century,
was attributed to Pope Gregory I and so took the name of Gregorian chant. Gregory
wrote over 850 letters in the last 13 years of his life (590–604) that give us
an accurate picture of his work. He is one of the four great Doctors of the
Latin Church. He died on March 12, 604. St Gregory is the patron saint of
musicians, singers, students, and teachers.
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