3 September: St Gregory the Great

Today is the feast day of St Gregory the Great. Here are ten facts about him.

1. His name is Greek and means “watchful”.
2. He is thought to have been born in Rome around the year 540.
3. His family were well off – his father was a senator and also held a high position in the church. His mother and two of his aunts were also saints and his great-great grandfather was Pope Felix III.
4. He was being prepared for a career in public life and so had a good education. He was especially good at grammar, rhetoric, science, literature and law. As expected, he followed his father into government and became prefect of Rome when he was just 33.
5. After his father died, he converted the family villa into a monastery and took a vow of poverty. He ruled his monks harshly. A dying monk who stole three Gold coins was condemned to die alone and his body thrown onto a manure heap rather then getting a decent burial. Gregory threw the gold onto the manure heap as well, saying, “Take your money with you to perdition”. That said, he later relented somewhat and had 30 masses said for the man’s soul.
6. A particular style of liturgical chanting, the Gregorian chant, is attributed to him.
7. What did he look like? John the Deacon described him from a portrait he saw in a monastery, as balding with a tawny Beard. He had a high forehead, a long, straight nose, thick Lips and beautiful hands. He is usually pictured in Papal regalia although it’s thought he preferred to dress more plainly. He is often pictured holding a book and with a square halo (used at that time to signify a holy person who was still alive). His attribute is a dove.
8. At one point Gregory set out to become a missionary in England. When he had been travelling for four days he stopped for lunch and a locust landed on his Bible. He took that as a sign from God that he shouldn’t go (because the word locus sounds like the Latin “loco sta” meaning stay in place) especially since not long after an emissary from the Pope arrived to tell him to go back.
9. He became Pope in 590. He was a supporter of the contemplative life and also of missionary work in Northern Europe.
10. St Gregory the Great is patron of musicians, singers, teachers and students.

Killing Me Softly

Sebastian Garrett is an assassin. It wasn’t his first choice of vocation, but nonetheless, he’s good at it, and can be relied upon to get the job done. He’s on top of his game.

Until he is contracted to kill Princess Helena of Galorvia. She is not just any princess. Sebastian doesn’t bargain on his intended victim being a super-heroine who gives as good as she gets. Only his own genetic variant power saves him from becoming the victim, instead of Helena. 

Fate has another surprise in store. Sebastian was not expecting to fall in love with her.

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