Gregory I (540-604) was the first monk to become pope. He was born into the ruling class, but had given away everything he owned to become a monk. During his impressive papacy, he devoted himself to reforming the church and monasteries and to helping Italians who were suffering from famine, plague, and invasions.
Another of his lasting achievements was the conversion of Southern England. This area of Britain had been conquered by pagan Angles and Saxons, ‘the English’. But when King Ethelbert of Kent married a Christian princess, it seems Gregory saw an opening, and sent his prior Augustine (not to be confused with Augustine of Hippo, whom we have already met) to evangelize them. One story, that is not included in our excerpt from Bede, says that Gregory was inspired by the sight of some young English slaves whom he saw in Rome. Amazed by their fair hair, he asked who they were, and being told they were Angles, replied “Not Angles, but angels.”
Pope St. Gregory the Great, Doctor of the Church (604)
— Memento Mori (@TempusFugit4016) March 12, 2024
One of the greatest Popes, he healed schisms, revived discipline, aided the conversion of Spanish and French Goths, and sent St. Augustine of Canterbury to evangelize England. He set in order the Church's prayers and chant. pic.twitter.com/OvOwzSzqM4
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