History of Christendom notes

Gregory the Great used the papal lands to feed and give to the surrounding people who were in need. He was greatly known for his hospitality.

He also wrote a book for the clerics mostly derived from the books of Timothy and Titus as a Scriptural standard and structure to their lives. He asked that they be fitted with the correct knowledge for their calling. They were to be physicians of the mind, healing and curing all diseases destructive to Christian thinking. They were also to have a order to their lives. If they couldn't have control and discipline within their own individual lives, how could they do that with others' lives? They were all to be instructed in how to properly teach and admonish their flocks. And the last thing was that they were to remember that they were mortal as well. Often, men in such positions would (and still do) get so caught up with their line of work that they believe themselves to be better and higher beings then the average person. Even though they were holy men, called of God, that doesn't negate from the fact that they could still sin just like any other. They were still subject to temptations.

Gregory sent out several different missionary trips. In one of them, he sent Augustine of Canterbury (not to be confused with Augustine of Hippo) along with forty other monks to England.

He set up the Gregorian Sacramentory which was a school made for monks and priest to school them in doctrinal issues, appropriate art, and how to work through the Church's place in the world. He believed this was made by forming solid liturgy. He was the founder of the Gregorian chant. At his school, the priests would study, and then go back to their monasteries or parishes and then teach what they learned to the people there. Gregory the Great worked tirelessly defending the faith and attacking heresies. He was the one who reset liturgy so that it focused wholly upon God and His Word.

When he died in 604, he was instantly proclaimed a Father of the Church (along with Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome). He believed that Word and Deed were essential to a strong theology. Faith and Works go hand in hand. Faith without works is dead and works without faith is moralism. You think and act upon the thought - this must be worked out throughout life. Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy - right praise, and right thinking. You cannot have one without the other. Gregory helped reestablish many families who struggled with money or food problems. He was known for emptying the monasteries treasury to give to the poor. He lived a life that he didn't plan for or didn't want. The path of being deacon of Rome, abbot, and Pope was not what he wanted, but he coped with it and made the best of it all. He was prepared for it and took it however unwillingly and gave it all to God. Gregory surrounded himself with monks to keep him from stumbling into temptations. They kept him accountable. Gregory was concerned for the strength and integrity of people and the church.

It's time to build a foundation for the future; we must lay the seeds and the groundwork for strong Christians to be formed in days to come. As Christians, we must be conscientiously aware of the future and act upon that.

The Fathers of the Church and their greatest actions:

Ambrose of Milan - he was bishop of Milan and was major in the conversion of Augustine

Jerome - translated the Bible into Latin

Augustine of Hippo - was bishop of Hippo and wrote many great books

Gregory the Great - helped with the conversion of the Angles and reset the liturgy.