March 12 — It is not surprising that Gregory's name comes up several times in the calendar because there have been several saints with the same first name, but the one we will talk about today is Gregory I, Pope or Gregory the Great.

Gregory the Great, Pope, lived from 540 to 604. The son of a senator, he also had a saint among his aunts, among whom was Saint Tharsille. The qualification of "Great" is well justified because he was great in his research and virtue. He was great for the good he did for those around him. He is great by his dignity as bishop, then legate and above all, he is great by the singularity of his pontificate.

Born in Rome, Gregory was also the mayor and took care of the poor. Under his administration, the City Hall became a hospital and a monastery. Of his wealth, he kept only one object, a silver plate which his mother used to bring him food to the monastery. But later he gave this plate to someone who asked him for help. He read books of piety with eagerness and showed exemplary patience in the prayer and mortification he practised regularly.

One day, he saw young men from England, put up for sale at the market. The inhabitants of this region did not yet know the Gospel, so Gregory asked the pope to go and announce the Good News to them, but following the discontent of the inhabitants of Rome, the pope refused his request. As soon as he entered the Holy See, Gregory made the evangelization of England a priority. He was responsible for the reform of the liturgy and the improvement of church hymns. His pontificate is considered a very fruitful and fulfilling period for the Church.

Gregory the Great died on March 12,604. He is often portrayed as a bishop listening to a dove talking in his ear. He is the patron saint of cantors.