Pope Gregory I Quotes & Sayings

Ignorance is a dangerous and spiritual poison, which all men ought warily to shun. — Pope Gregory I

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

And here we must narrowly watch ourselves, seeing that banquets can scarcely be celebrated blamelessly, for almost always luxury accompanies feasting; and when the body is swallowed up in the delight of refreshing itself, the heart relaxes to empty joys. — Pope Gregory I

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

Affliction strengthens the vigor of our soul, whereas happiness weakens it. — Pope Gregory I

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

Now if the wearing of fine and precious robes were not a fault, word of God would never have so carefully expressed this. For no one seeks costly garments except for vainglory, that he may seem more honorable than others; for no one wishes to be clothed with such, where he cannot be seen by others. — Pope Gregory I

The Bible is a stream of running water, where alike the elephant may swim, and the lamb walk without losing its feet. — Pope Gregory I

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

The human mind is prone to pride even when not supported by power; how much more, then, does it exalt itself when it has that support? — Pope Gregory I

The pastor should always be pure in thought ... no impurity ought to pollute him who has undertaken the office of wiping away the stains in the hearts of others ... for the hand that would cleanse from dirt must be clean, lest, being itself sordid with clinging mire, it soil whatever it touches all the more. — Pope Gregory I

Whatsoever then you have well in this world, when you recollect to have done any thing good, be very fearful about it, lest the prosperity granted you be your recompense for the same good. And when you behold poor men doing any thing blameably, fear not, seeing that perhaps those whom the remains of the slightest iniquity defiles, the fire of honesty cleanses. — Pope Gregory I

You cannot acquire the gift of peace if by your anger you destroy the peace of the Lord. — Pope Gregory I

Whoever wishes to hold the fortress of contemplation must first of all train in the camp of action. — Pope Gregory I

Whatsoever one would understand what he hears must hasten to put into practice what he has heard. — Pope Gregory I

We ascend to the heights of contemplation by the steps of action. — Pope Gregory I

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

You don't climb a mountain in leaps and bounds, but by taking it slowly. — Pope Gregory I

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

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

Have confidence in the compassion of our Creator. Reflect well on what you are now doing, and keep before you the things you have done. Lift up your eyes to the overflowing compassion of heaven, and while He waits for you, draw near in tears to our merciful Judge. Having before your mind that He is a Just Judge, do not take your sins lightly; and having also in mind that He is compassionate, do not despair. The God-Man gives man confidence before God. — Pope Gregory I

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

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

What do they not see, who see Him Who sees all things? — Pope Gregory I

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

The universe is not rich enough to buy the vote of an honest man. — Pope Gregory I

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

He who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exemplify the highest things. — Pope Gregory I

The more the wicked abound, so much the more must we suffer with them in patience; for on the threshing floor few are the grains carried into the barns, but high are the piles of chaff burned with fire. — Pope Gregory I

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