Born: c. 540

Died: 604

Nationality: Italian 

Vocation: priest

Attributes: papal tiara and vestments, papal cross, book, quill

Patronage: musicians, singers, students, teachers

Canonization: 1768 by Pope Benedict XIII

Known as “The Theologian,” Pope St. Gregory the Great was trained as a lawyer and rose to various positions of political power in Rome. Around the age of 30, he forsook his successful political career to become a Benedictine monk. 

After three years of monastic life, he was called by the pope to be a deacon in Rome. He then served for six years as a papal ambassador to the Eastern Church to help solve theological controversies. 

After Pope Pelagius II died in 589, Gregory was elected to replace him at the age of 50. 

Gregory is known for his work reforming the Roman liturgy and the disciplines of the Church, and is credited by some scholars as reviving “Gregorian” chant. He sent missionaries to England that led to the success of the nation’s conversion. 

He referred to himself humbly as the “servant of the servants of God,” a title which became another way to refer to the pope. 

Gregory is a Father and Doctor of the Church. 

Pope Saint Gregory the Great, pray for us.