Generosity in the Following of Christ

Folio 71v - The Procession of Saint Gregory
Limbourg brothers. Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry. Folio 71 verso. The Procession of St Gregory, first part. Musée Condé.
St Gregory’s life was marked by the intermittent disaster of the plague. In 590, Pope Pelagius was the victim of the plague and St Gregory was elected to succeed him. He led a procession through the streets of Rome, singing the Kyrie eleison, and above the mausoleum of Hadrian, the Archangel Michael was seen to sheath his sword. To this day, the building is known as Castel Sant’ Angelo.

The power of prayer shown in this episode reminds us that we should pray with faith, with trust, and without ceasing. We believe and trust that our prayers are efficacious because of the promises of Christ.

We should pray every day, and assist at Holy Mass every week. The various devotions approved by the Church help us to deepen our friendship with Christ. We pray for God to give us the graces we need, we pray for our local community and especially our parish, and we pray for all people of good will to hear and respond to the Gospel of Christ.

St Gregory, and his missionary envoy St Austin, were generous in giving their lives to Christ. Inspired by them, let us be more generous in our prayer, our prayerful participation at Mass, and in our devotions. Their lives also remind us of our duty to the poor.

The giving of our resources, whether in the offertory or for other charitable needs, should not be limited to fundraising for practical purposes. When we give, we are exercising our discipleship of Christ. It is that friendship which should motivate us to sacrifice.