Saint Gregory the Great
Pope and Doctor of the Church, Memorial
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
Gregory the Great (540-604) was civil prefect (governor) of Rome; he became a Benedictine monk, later papal envoy to Constantinople. Elected Pope, he reluctantly accepted, as he preferred the monastic life. He was a very capable administrator, looking upon his task as service. His incumbency during difficult times was marked by his efforts to care for the socially deprived, to reconcile factions within the Church, to create cordial relations with the Church in Spain and France and to evangelise England. He reformed the Roman liturgy, though his relation to “Gregorian chant” is mere fantasy, for the “old Roman” music he promoted disappeared in the 14th century. Let us honour him today especially as a reformer of the Church and “servant of the servants” as he called himself.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
Saint Gregory followed Jesus, your Son,
in his commitment to you
and his service to the people entrusted to him.
May the Spirit of Jesus be alive in us
and dispose us to become, like your Son,
powerless and vulnerable,
so that we can serve one another,
especially the weakest of our brothers and sisters.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Sincere Preaching
Since this is our ministry, graciously entrusted to us, we do not weaken.
We refuse to remain silent with half-truths out of fear; we do not act with cunning or distort God’s message, but by speaking the truth openly, we place ourselves before the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
It is not ourselves we preach, but Christ Jesus as Lord; and for Jesus’ sake, we serve you.
God, who said, ‘Let the light shine out of darkness,’ has also made the light shine in our hearts to radiate and reveal the glory of God as it shines in the face of Christ.
Trust in God
However, we carry this treasure in jars of clay so that this all-surpassing power may not be attributed to us, but to God.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
They also started arguing among themselves about who should be considered the most important.
Jesus said:
“The kings of the pagan nations dominate them as lords, and those in authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’”
But not so with you; instead, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves.
For who is the greatest: the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? Isn’t it the one who sits? However, I am among you as one who serves.
You are the ones who have been with me and stood by me through my troubles;
because of this, just as the kingship has been given to me by my Father, so I give it to you.
You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones and govern the twelve tribes of Israel.
Prayers of the Faithful
Prayer over the Gifts
God of all people,
as Jesus serves us himself at table
in the signs of bread and wine,
let him fill us with that love,
which alone can understand
that to be great is to serve others
and to use up our lives
to give people a chance to live and be free.
May we seek no other reward
than to share the destiny of Jesus,
our Lord and Savior for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Loving God,
your Son Jesus has been with us
in this eucharistic celebration
as the servant of us all.
Let him dispose our hearts
and fill it with the courage
to understand and accept others,
to accompany them on the road of life
to suffer their pains
and to rejoice with their joys,
that we may serve them with Jesus,
our Savior and Lord for ever.