Mass at Saint Petronille, Glen Ellyn
Saint Gregory showed a great deal of promise at a young age. He had a stellar political career, becoming prefect of Rome before the age of thirty. After a short time, he resigned his office and dedicated his life to the priesthood. He joined a Benedictine monastery and became abbot, founding several other monasteries during his time there. Eventually he was called to become the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, and he dedicated his papal ministry to reforming the Church, the Liturgy, and its priests. He is the one for whom Gregorian Chant is named. He also spent a good deal of time and money ransoming the political prisoners of the Lombards, and helped to stabilize the social climate somewhat during a time of great strife in the medieval world.
Of course, there’s always strife in the world. Whether we measure that in the secular world, noting the many acts of violence throughout the world, and even in our own cities, or if we measure it in our Church, noting the scandals and sadness that has marred our recent history, a lot of what we deal with on a daily basis needs to be set right. Reform is always needed, or else good institutions become stagnant, and then corrupt. We look for the intercession of people like Pope Saint Gregory the Great to lead us back to Christ.
Jesus, too, was about setting things right, of course. In our Gospel today, he heals Saint Peter’s mother-in-law, cures many of the sick, casts out demons, and prepares to move on preaching in many other towns. Setting things right is the duty of the Christian disciple, whenever she or he sees things that need fixing. Advocating for those neglected and in need, looking in on the sick and lonely, mentoring young people, and preaching the Word by the way we live our lives. That’s how we do it, always relying on the Holy Spirit and the intercession of saints like Pope Saint Gregory the Great.
