November 17
SAINT GREGORY
THAUMATURGUS
BISHOP AND CONFESSOR
The
Liturgical Year – Ven. Dom Prosper Guéranger
Moses
instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, mighty in his words and in his
deeds, retired into the desert: Gregory, adorned with the best gifts of birth
and nature, brilliant in rhetoric, rich in every science, hid himself from men
in the flower of his youth, and hastened to offer to God in solitude the
holocaust best pleasing to the Lord. Each was the hope of his race; yet each
turned away to lose himself in the contemplation of heavenly mysteries.
Meanwhile, the yoke of Pharaoh lay heavy upon Israel; meanwhile, souls were perishing,
whom one of Gregory's burning words might have snatched from the empire of
idolatry: was not such flight, then, desertion?
Is it for man to proclaim himself a saviour, when Jesus did not arrogate that
title to himself? And when evil was rife all around, did the Carpenter of
Nazareth do wrong to remain in the shade for thirty years previous to his short
period of ministry? O ye teachers of our excited, fevered times, who dream of a
new hierarchy among the virtues, and understand divine charity far otherwise
than our fathers: not those are of the race of Israel's saviours whose ideas
concerning social good differ from those of the world's Redeemer.
Gregory, like Moses, was of that blessed race. His friends and enemies agreed
in saying that he resembled the Hebrew legislator in the excellence of his
virtue, and in the splendour of the prodigies wrought by his word. Both
were actuated by the desire of knowing God, and manifesting him to the men they
were called to lead: the fullness of doctrine is the gift most necessary to the
guides of the people, and their want of it the greatest penury. I am who am was
the answer to Moses' enquiry; and this sublime formula, confided to him from
the midst of the burning bush, authenticated the mission which called him forth
from the desert. When Gregory was commanded by God to go out into the world,
the blessed Virgin, of whom the burning bush was a figure, appeared before his
dazzled eyes in the dark night when he was praying for light. And St. John,
following the Mother of God, let fall from his lips this other formula
completing the former for the disciples of the Law of love
One only God, Father of the living Word, of that substantial and mighty Wisdom
who is the eternal expression of himself; the perfect principle of the only and
perfect Son begotten by him. One only Lord, sole-begotten of the Only one; God
of God, efficacious Word, Wisdom embracing and containing the world, creative
power of all creation, true Son of a true Father. One only Holy Spirit, holding
of God his divine existence, revealed to men by the Son of whom he is the
perfect likeness, life and life-giving, holy and imparting holiness. The
perfect Trinity, immutable, inseparable in glory, in eternity, in dominion.
This was the message our Saint was to communicate to his country, the creed
that was to bear his name in the Church. By his faith in the most holy Trinity
he was to remove mountains, and set limits to the waves, to drive out Satan,
and eradicate infidelity from Pontus. When, towards the year 240, Gregory, then
bishop, was on his way to Neocaesarea, he saw on all sides the temples of
idols, and stopped for the night at a famous sanctuary. In the morning all the
gods had taken to flight and refused to come back; but the Saint gave to the
priest of the oracle a note thus worded: Gregory to Satan: return. A more
bitter defeat awaited the demons; forced to stay their precipitate retreat,
they were compelled to witness the ruin of their empire over the souls they had
abused. The priest was the first to give himself up to the Bishop, and became
his deacon; and soon upon the ruins of the temples everywhere overthrown arose
the Church of Christ, the only God. Happy was that Church, so firmly founded
that heresy was powerless against it in the following century, when so many
others bowed before the storm of Arianism. On the testimony of St. Basil, the
successors of St. Gregory, themselves eminent men, were as an adornment of
precious stones, a crown of stars, to the Church of Neocaesarea. Now all these
illustrious Pontiffs, says he, considered it an honour to keep up the memory of
their great predecessor; they would never suffer that any act, word, or
movement other than his, in performing the sacred rites, should prevail over
the traditions he had left.
When Clement XII., as we have seen, established in the entire Church the feast
of St. Gertrude the Great, he at first decreed that it should be kept on this
day, on which it is still celebrated by the Order of St. Benedict. But as the
17th November had been for long centuries assigned to St. Gregory Thaumaturgus,
it seemed unfitting, said Benedict XIV, that he who moved mountains should
himself be moved from his place by the holy virgin. Accordingly in 1739, the
year following its institution, the feast of St. Gertrude was fixed on the
fifteenth of this month.
Let us read
the brief account of the great Thaumaturgus given in the holy Liturgy
Gregory,
bishop of Neocaesarea in Pontus, was illustrious for his holiness and learning,
but still more for his miracles, which were so startling and so numerous that
he was called the Thaumaturgus; and, according to St. Basil, he was considered
comparable to Moses, the Prophets, and the Apostles. By his prayer he removed a
mountain, which was an obstacle to the building of a church. He also dried up a
lake which was a cause of dissension between brothers. The river Lycus, which
was inundating and devastating the fields, he restrained by fixing in the bank
his stick which immediately grew into a green tree, and served as a limit which
the river henceforth never overpassed.
He frequently expelled the devils from idols and from men's bodies, and worked
many other miracles, by means of which he led multitudes to the faith of
Christ. He also foretold future events by the spirit of prophecy. When he was
dying, he asked how many infidels remained in the city of Neocaesarea; and on
being informed that there were only seventeen, he gave thanks to God, and said:
When I was made bishop, there were but seventeen believers. He wrote several
works, by which, as well as by his miracles, he adorned the Church of God.
O holy
Pontiff, thy faith, removing mountains and commanding the waves, was a
justification of our Lord's promise. Teach us in our turn to do honour to the
Gospel, by never doubting of our Lord's word and of the help he promises us
against Satan, whom the Church points out to us to-day as the proud mountain
that is to be cast into the sea; and also against the overflowing tide of our
passions, and the enticements of the world, of which thy writings teach us the
vanity. After the victory let us not forget that the succour came to us from
heaven; preserve us from ingratitude, which thou didst so detest. We still
possess the touching eulogy dictated by thy gratitude towards the illustrious
master, to whose teachings, under God, thou didst owe the glorious strength and
splendour of thy faith. Here is a precious and practical lesson for all: while
praising divine Providence in the man who was his predestined instrument in thy
regard, thou didst not forget the homage due to the Angel of God, who had
preserved thee from falling into the abyss, during the darkness of infidelity
in which thy first years were spent; that heavenly Guardian who, ever watchful
in his active, enlightened, persevering devotedness, supplies for our
insufficiencies, nourishes and instructs us, leads us by the hand, and secretly
arranges for our souls those blessed circumstances and occasions, which
transform our life and secure eternal happiness.
How can we sinful creatures sufficiently thank the Author of all good, the
infinite Being who gives to man both the holy Angels and the visible intermediaries
of divine grace on earth? But let us take courage, for we have as our Head his
own Son, his Word who saved our souls, and who rules the universe. He alone,
and that without effort, can render to his Father unceasing, eternal
thanksgiving, for himself and for us all, without risk of not knowing or of
forgetting the least subject of gratitude, without fear of any imperfection in
the manner or the magnitude of his praise. To him, then, to the divine Word, we
commit as thou didst, O Gregory, the care of perfecting the expression of our
gratitude for the unspeakable kindness of our heavenly Father; for the Word is
to us, as to thee, the only channel of piety, gratitude, and love. May he give
us in these days pastors who will imitate thy works; and may he raise up again
the ancient churches of the East, which once received such light from thee!
****
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ST GREGORY THE WONDERWORKER
Bishop and Confessor
Semi-Double / White Vestments
Missa 'Statuit'
INTROIT -
Ecclesiasticus 45: 30
Statuit ei
Dominus testamentum pacis, et principem fecit eum: ut sit illi sacerdotii
dignitas in æternum. Psalm 131: 1 Memento Domine, David: et omnis
mansuetudinus ejus. Gloria Patri.
The Lord made
to him a covenant of peace, and made him a prince: that the dignity of
priesthood should be to him for ever. Ps. O
Lord, remember David: and all his meekness. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
Grant, we
beseech Thee, O almighty God, that the august solemnity of Thy blessed
Confessor and Pontiff, Gregory, may increase our devotion and promote our
salvation. Through our Lord.
HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you.
EPISTLE -
Ecclesiasticus 44: 16-27; 45: 3-20
Behold, a
great priest, who in his days pleased God, and was found just; and in the time
of wrath he was made a reconciliation. There was not found the like to him who
kept the law of the most High. Therefore by an oath the Lord made him to
increase among his people He gave him the blessing of all nations, and
confirmed His covenant upon his head. He acknowledged him in His blessings; He
preserved for him His mercy; and he found grace before the eyes of the Lord. He
glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him a crown of glory. He made an
everlasting covenant with him, and gave him a great priesthood: and made him
blessed in glory. To execute the office of the priesthood, and to have praised
in His name, and to offer him a worthy incense for an odour of sweetness.
GRADUAL - Ecclus 44: 66, 20
Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God. There was not found the like to him, who kept the law of the Most High.
ALLELUIA - Psalm 109: 4
Alleluia, alleluia. Tu es sacerdos in æternum, secundum, ordinem Melchisedech.
Alleluia, alleluia. Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.
GOSPEL - Mark 11: 22-24
At that time, Jesus answering, said to His disciples: Have the faith of God. Amen, I say to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed and be cast into the sea, and shall not stagger in his heart, but believe that whatsoever he hath said shall be done, it shall be done unto him. Therefore I say unto you, all things whatsoever you ask when ye pray, believe that you shall receive, and they shall come unto you.
OFFERTORY - Psalm 88: 22
I have found David My servant, with My holy oil I have anointed him: for My hand shall help him, and My arm shall strengthen him. Alleluia.
SECRET
May Thy Saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, in all places bring us joy; that while we recall their merits, we may experience their patronage. Through our Lord.
COMMON PREFACE
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, Dominations worship, Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus…
COMMUNION - Luke 12: 42
Fidelis servus et prudens, quem constituit dominus super familiam suam: ut det illis in tempore tritici mensuram. Alleluia.
This is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord setteth over his family: to give them their measure of wheat in due season. Alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that, giving thanks for the favours we have received, we may, by the intercession of blessed Gregory, Thy Confessor and Bishop, obtain blessings still greater. Through our Lord
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