Saint Who?
Saints Who Wrote Hymns
Saint Gregory the Great
Pope and Doctor († 604) Feast: September 3
Thirty-year-old Gregory was the prefect of Rome and one of its wealthiest citizens when the Lombard tribes invaded Italy. His strength of leadership during that crisis earned him the respect of the people of Rome. But soon afterward, Gregory decided to give away all his riches and live as a monk in a monastery he founded in his own home. Pope Pelagius II recognized Gregory’s abilities and sent him to serve as a papal envoy in Constantinople for a few years. But when Pelagius died, Gregory was elected to replace him.
During his reign, Gregory wrote sermons, books, and more than eight hundred letters, and he demonstrated his administrative abilities by managing to feed hordes of hungry refugees during yet another invasion. As pope, he fought for the rights of the Church and for Catholics against the Byzantine emperor and the patriarch of Constantinople, combated the Donatist heresy, and sent missionaries to England.
He is also generally credited with the reform of liturgical music, which was later named Gregorian chant in his honor. While scholars continue to argue over whether Gregory really composed all the hymns traditionally ascribed to him, one translated version of his work is still sung today. The popular hymn “The glory of these forty days” is based on the Latin hymn Clarus decus jejunii.
Lord Jesus Christ, give us the joy of seeing your face.
