Pope Gregory I famous quotes

Last updated: Sep 5, 2024

To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done, and to do no evil to bewail.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Evil #Penance #Done
There are in truth three states of the converted: the beginning, the middle, and the perfection. In the beginning they experience the charms of sweetness; in the middle the contests of temptation; and in the end the fullness of perfection.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Perfection #Temptation #Saint
The only true riches are those that make us rich in virtue. Therefore, if you want to be rich, beloved, love true riches. If you aspire to the heights of real honor, strive to reach the kingdom of Heaven. If you value rank and renown, hasten to be enrolled in the heavenly court of the Angels.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Real #Angel #Heaven
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Faith #Inspiration #Love Is
The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind's eye. In it we see our inner face. From the Scriptures we can learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how far we are from perfection.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Spiritual #Eye #Mirrors
We ascend to the heights of contemplation by the steps of action.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Height #Steps #Saint
Whoever wishes to hold the fortress of contemplation must first of all train in the camp of action.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Wish #Saint #Firsts
The bliss of the elect in heaven would not be perfect unless they were able to look across the abyss and enjoy the agonies of their brethren in eternal fire.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Agony #Fire #Perfect
What do they not see, who see Him Who sees all things?
-- Pope Gregory I

#Saint
The people will have no need to change their place of concourse; where of old they were wont to sacrifice cattle to demons, thither let them continue to resort on the day of the Saint to whom the Church is dedicated, and slay their beasts, no longer as a sacrifice to demons, but for a social meal in honour of Him whom they now worship.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Sacrifice #People #Scary
I despise the proper constructions and cases, because I think it very unfitting that the words of the celestial oracle should be restricted by the rules of Donatus [a well-known grammarian].
-- Pope Gregory I

#Thinking #Scary #Oracles
Whatsoever one would understand what he hears must hasten to put into practice what he has heard.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Learning #Practice #Heard
The universe is not rich enough to buy the vote of an honest man.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Men #Voting #Honest
Scriptura sacra mentis oculis quasi quoddam speculum opponitur, ut interna nostra facies in ipsa videatur. Holy scripture is placed before the eyes of our mind like a mirror, so that we may view our inner face therein.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Eye #Mirrors #Views
You cannot acquire the gift of peace if by your anger you destroy the peace of the Lord.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Christian #Anger #Lord
If we are, in fact, now occupied in good deeds, we should not attribute the strength with which we are doing them to ourselves. We must not count on ourselves, because even if we know what kind of person we are today, we do not know what we will be tomorrow.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Deeds #Today #Facts
The greatness of contemplation can be given to none but those who love.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Greatness #Saint #Contemplation
We make Idols of our concepts, but Wisdom is born of wonder
-- Pope Gregory I

#Idols #Wonder #Born
The holy universal Church teaches that it is not possible to worship God truly except in Her and asserts that all who are outside of Her will not be saved.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Church #Worship #Holy
Act in such a way that your humility may not be weakness, nor your authority be severity. Justice must be accompanied by humility, that humility may render justice lovable.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Humility #Justice #May
There is more joy in heaven over a converted sinner than over a righteous person standing firm. A leader in battle has more love for a soldier who returns after fleeing, and who valiantly pursues the enemy, than for one who never turned back, but who never acted valiantly either. A farmer has greater love for land which bears fruitfully, after he has cleared it of thorns, than for land which never had thorns but which never yielded a fruitful harvest.
-- Pope Gregory I

#Land #Joy #Leader

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