St Gregory the Great was born in the year 540, and died in 604. He was appointed Prefect of the City of Rome in about the year 573. Not long afterwards, he left it all to become a monk, but then was elected Pope about five years later. In this country, he is remembered for sending missionary monks to England, among them the one who was to become St Augustine of Canterbury.

He wrote: ‘One and the same exhortation does not suit all, inasmuch as neither are all bound together by similarity of character. For the things that profit some often hurt others; seeing that also for the most part herbs which nourish some animals are fatal to others; and the gentle hissing that quiets horses incites whelps; and the medicine which abates one disease aggravates another; and the bread which invigorates the life of the strong kills little children. Therefore according to the quality of the hearers ought the discourse of teachers to be fashioned, so as to suit all and each for their several needs, and yet never deviate from the art of common edification. For what are the intent minds of hearers but, so to speak, a kind of tight tensions of strings in a harp, which the skilful player, that he may produce a tune not at variance with itself, strikes variously? And for this reason the strings render back a consonant modulation, that they are struck indeed with one quill, but not with one kind of stroke. Whence every teacher also, that he may edify all in the one virtue of charity, ought to touch the hearts of his hearers out of one doctrine, but not with one and the same exhortation’. (St Gregory the Great, Pastoral Rule, Book III, Prologue)

The image below is of Pope St Gregory, and is by Francisco de Zurbarán, painted about the year 1627. It is in the public domain.

May Pope St Gregory pray for us, that in our several callings we may glorify God, and may God bless you this day.