St Augustine's Church

Saint Gregory with Scribes by the Master of the Viennese Gregory Panel, late 10th c. Gregory is always depicted with the dove of the Holy Spirit whispering in his ear.

POPE ST GREGORY THE GREAT 540-604 Last Thursday was the feast of Gregory the Great. Gregory was Pope at a time when the civilisation upheld by the Roman Empire was in collapse. The world was in turmoil. Gregory had been a civil servant but he withdrew to join the monastic community he had founded. He was soon drawn back into governance, however, but he brought to it a great pastoral heart. In his sermon which was used for the Office of Readings on Thursday, he laments what he has lost.

“When I lived in a monastic community I was able to keep my tongue from idle topics and to devote my mind almost continually to the discipline of prayer. Since taking on my shoulders the burden of pastoral care, I have been unable to keep steadily recollected because my mind is distracted by many responsibilities.

  “I am forced to consider questions affecting churches and monasteries and often I must judge the lives and actions of individuals; at one moment I am forced to take part in certain civil affairs, next I must worry over the incursions of barbarians and fear the wolves who menace the flock entrusted to my care; now I must accept political responsibility in order to give support to those who preserve the rule of law; now I must bear patiently the villainies of brigands, and then I must confront them, yet in all charity.

  “My mind is sundered and torn to pieces by the many and serious things I have to think about. When I try to concentrate and gather all my intellectual resources for preaching, how can I do justice to the sacred ministry of the word?”

Very much like the regrets of the modern parish priest!