Gregory. to use his own words, he was often tormented with pains Life of Pope in his bowels, and a weakness of his stomach, whilst he A.D. 605. was continually suffering from slow fever. But whereas at the same time he carefully reflected that, as the Scripture testifies, "Every son that is received is scourged," the more he laboured and was depressed under those present evils, the more he assured himself of his eternal salvation. Thus much may be said of his immortal genius, which could not be restrained by such severe bodily pains; for other popes applied themselves to building, or adorning of churches with gold and silver, but Gregory was entirely intent upon gaining souls. Whatsoever money he had, he diligently took care to distribute and give to the poor, that his righteousness might endure for ever, and his horn be exalted with honour; so that what blessed Job said might be truly said of him, "When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was the eye to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was father to the poor; and the cause which I knew not, I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth." And a little after: "If I have withheld," says he, "the poor from their desire; or have caused the eye of the widow to fail; or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof. For of my youth compassion grew up with me, and from my mother's womb it came forth with me." To these works of piety and righteousness this also may be added, that he saved our nation, by the preachers he sent hither, from the teeth of the old enemy, and L tatis fecit esse participem; cujus fidei et saluti congaudens, quamque digna laude commendans, ipse dixit in expositione beati Job, "Ecce lingua Britanniæ, quæ nil aliud noverat quam barbarum frendere, jamdudum in divinis laudibus Hebræum cœpit Alleluia sonare. Ecce quondam tumidus, jam substratus sanctorum pedibus servit oceanus, ejusque barbaros motus, quos terreni principes edomare ferro nequiverant, hos pro divina formidine sacerdotum ora simplicibus verbis ligant, et qui catervas pugnantium infidelis nequaquam metueret, jam nunc fidelis humilium linguas timet. Quia enim, perceptis cœlestibus verbis, clarescentibus quoque miraculis, virtus ei divinæ cognitionis infunditur, ejusdem divinitatis terrore refrænatur, ut prave agere metuat, ac totis desideriis ad æternitatis gratiam venire concupiscat." Quibus verbis beatus Gregorius hoc quoque declarat, quia Sanctus Augustinus et socii ejus non sola prædicatione verborum, sed etiam cœlestium ostensione signorum, gentem Anglorum ad agnitionem veritatis perducebant. Fecit inter alia beatus Papa Gregorius, ut in ecclesiis sanctorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli, super corpora eorum missæ celebrarentur. Sed et in ipsa missarum celebratione tria verba maximæ perfectionis plena superadjecit, "Diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab æterna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum jubeas grege numerari.” Rexit autem ecclesiam temporibus imperatorum Mauricii et Phocatis; secundo autem ejusdem Phocatis anno transiens ex hac vita migravit ad veram, quæ in cœlis est, vitam. Sepultus vero est corpore in ecclesia beati Petri apostoli, ante secretarium, die quarto Iduum Martiarum, quandoque in ipso cum ceteris sanctæ ecclesiæ pastoribus resurrecturus in gloria, scriptumque est in tumba ipsius epitaphium hujusmodi. Suscipe, terra, tuo corpus de corpore sumtum, Gregory. made it partaker of eternal liberty; in whose faith and Life of Pope salvation rejoicing, and worthily commending the same, A.D. 605. he in his exposition on holy Job, says, "Behold, a tongue of Britain, which only knew how to utter barbarous language, has long since begun to resound the Hebrew Hallelujah! Behold, the once swelling ocean now serves prostrate at the feet of the saints; and its barbarous motions, which earthly princes could not subdue with the sword, are now, through the fear of God, bound by the mouths of priests with words only; and he that when an infidel stood not in awe of fighting troops, now a believer, fears the tongues of the humble! For by reason that the virtue of the Divine knowledge is infused into it by precepts, heavenly words, and conspicuous miracles, it is curbed by the dread of the same Divinity, so as to fear to act wickedly, and bends all its desires to arrive at eternal glory." In which words holy Gregory declares this also, that St. Augustine and his companions brought the English to receive the truth, not only by the preaching of words, but also by showing of heavenly signs. The holy Pope Gregory, among other things, caused masses to be celebrated in the churches of the apostles, Peter and Paul, over their bodies. And in the celebration of masses, he added three words full of great goodness and perfection: "And dispose our days in thy peace, and preserve us from eternal damnation, and rank us in the number of thy elect, through Christ our Lord.” He governed the church in the days of the Emperors Mauritius and Phocas, but passing out of this life in the second year of the same Phocas, he departed to the true life which is in heaven. His body was buried in the church of St. Peter the Apostle, before the sacristy, on the 4th day of March, to rise one day in the same body in glory with the rest of the holy pastors of the church. On his tomb was written this epitaph: Earth! take that body which at first you gave, Spiritus astra petit, lethi nil jura nocebunt, Atque animas monitis texit ab hoste sacris. Hic labor, hoc studium, hæc tibi cura, hoc, pastor, agebas, Hisque Dei consul factus lætare triumphis; Nam mercedem operum jam sine fine tenes. Nec silentio prætereunda opinio, quæ de beato Gregorio traditione majorum ad nos usque perlata est; qua, videlicet, ex causa admonitus tam sedulam erga salutem nostræ gentis curam gesserit. Dicunt, quia die quadam cum, advenientibus nuper mercatoribus, multa venalia in forum fuissent collata, multique ad emendum confluxissent, et ipsum Gregorium inter alios advenisse, ac vidisse inter alia pueros venales positos candidi corporis ac venusti vultus, capillorum quoque forma egregia; quos cum aspiceret interrogavit, ut aiunt, de qua regione vel terra essent allati, dictumque est quod de Britannia insula, cujus incolæ talis essent aspectus. Rursus interrogavit, utrum iidem insulani, Christiani, an paganis adhuc erroribus essent implicati, dictumque est quod essent pagani. At ille, intimo ex corde longa trahens suspiria, "Heu, proh dolor!" inquit, quod tam lucidi vultus homines tenebrarum auctor possidet, tantaque gratia frontis speciei mentem 66 His soul amidst the stars finds heavenly day; Nor is the account of St. Gregory, which has been handed down to us by the tradition of our ancestors, to be passed by in silence, in relation to his motives for taking such interest in the salvation of our nation. It is reported, that some merchants, having just arrived at Rome on a certain day, exposed many things for sale in the market-place, and abundance of people resorted thither to buy: Gregory himself went with the rest, and, among other things, some boys were set to sale, their bodies white, their countenances beautiful, and their hair very fine. Having viewed them, he asked, as is said, from what country or nation they were brought? and was told, from the island of Britain, whose inhabitants were of such personal appearance. He again inquired whether those islanders were Christians, or still involved in the errors of paganism? and was informed that they were pagans. Then fetching a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart, "Alas! what pity," said he, "that the author of darkness is possessed of men of such fair countenances; and that being remarkable for such graceful aspects, their minds should Life of Pope Gregory. A.D. 605. |