Near the end of the 6th century, the Catholic Church was in desperate need of a good shepherd. Many bishops and clergy were corrupt, and Europe was deeply divided following the collapse of the Roman Empire.

When Pope Pelagius II died of the plague, the people of Rome knew exactly who they wanted as their next leader: Gregory.

Gregory was well known for his holiness, simplicity, and deep desire for solitude. As the abbot of a local monastery, he had guided a flourishing community of faith. At 50 years old, Gregory looked forward to spending the rest of his days in quiet contemplation within his monastic cell.

However, that dream came crashing down when the clergy and citizens of Rome came knocking on his door. When they announced their plan to elect him as pope, Gregory immediately refused and even wrote to the Byzantine Emperor pleading to reject the appointment.

One famous story, recounted in the Golden Legend, illustrates just how far he went to avoid the papacy:

“Gregory tried to flee from Rome but could not, because they watched for him day and night at the city gates. At length he changed his clothes and persuaded some tradesmen to hide him in a wine cask and get him out of the city in a wagon. When they reached a forest, he made for a hiding place in the caves and hid there for three days. A relentless search for him was under way, and a bright column of light beamed down from the heavens and appeared over the place where he had concealed himself: a certain hermit saw angels descending and ascending in this beam. Of course, this led the pursuers to Gregory, and they carried him back to Rome and consecrated him as Supreme Pontiff.”

Who would have thought that the man who tried to escape the papacy would go on to reshape the Church? Saint Gregory reformed the liturgy, protected the poor, sent missionaries to convert England. The sacred music known as Gregorian Chant was also named after him.

Today, he is honored as a Doctor of the Church and is the patron saint of educators, students, musicians, singers, and people suffering from epilepsy, as well as the patron saint of England.

Saint Gregory the Great reminds us that God often calls us not because we feel ready, but because He equips those whom He chooses. When we feel inadequate or overwhelmed by the responsibilities before us, his life calls us to surrender our own plans, trust in divine providence, and serve God’s people with a generous and humble heart.

Saint Gregory the Great, intercede for us!