In short:  Men who are gifted for ministry and exercise genuine piety have been given those gifts not just for themselves but also to serve others.  They ought not refuse the call out of desire for ease. The care of feeding the flock is the proof of loving it. Refusing to feed it is failing to love… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter V

In short: In governing, one’s attention is often divided and dealing with many situations can often bring mental confusion, debilitating anxiety, and distraction that can result in a lack of important self-examination and a lack of focus on the necessary work at hand. This, in turn, can lead one into trouble and sin.  Often when means… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter IV

In short:  Given the seriousness of the pastoral office, those who are unqualified or lusting for glory should not enter it. To profane it leads to perdition. Jesus “fled from the offered glory of pre-eminence, but desired the pain of an ignominious death; that so His members might learn to fly from the favours of the… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter III

In short:  Ministers who have learned spiritual truths from drinking pure water must live out those truths and not leave the sheep to drink water polluted by their corrupt example. They must not, having a high rank, act perversely and become a stumbling block to the people, all the while being shielded by their high rank.  One… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter II

In short: Anyone seeking the pastoral office must learn and train for it before undertaking it. Spiritual health is more important than bodily health. Those who are ignorant of spiritual truths ought to be as uncomfortable acting as doctors in matters of the heart as they would be if asked to prescribe drugs for the body.… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter I

Gregory the Great’s Book of Pastoral Rule or Care (Lat. Liber Regulae Pastoralis, Regula Pastoralisor Cura Pastoralis) is his treatise on the responsibilities of ministers.    Gregory wrote it shortly after his inauguration as Bishop of Rome in A.D. 590. At the time, Rome was in a shambles due to invasions, famine, and plague.  In AD 546 the Ostrogoths had plundered the… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I: Gregory to his … fellow-bishop, John (of Ravenna).