Today in History:

590 - St Gregory I begins his reign as Catholic Pope
1783 - Treaty of Paris signed (ending US Revolutionary War)
1791 - French Constitution passed by French National Assembly
1939 - Great Britain & France declare war on Germany after invasion of Poland

A Saint's Feast Day:  St. Pope Gregory the Great

St. Gregory, born at Rome about the year 540, was the son of Gordianus, a wealthy senator, who later renounced the world and became one of the seven deacons of Rome. After he had acquired the usual thorough education, Emperor Justin the Younger appointed him, in 574, Chief Magistrate of Rome, though he was only thirty-four years of age.

After the death of his father, he built six monasteries in Sicily and founded a seventh in his own house in Rome, which became the Benedictine Monastery of St. Andrew. Here, he himself assumed the monastic habit in 575, at the age of thirty-five.

After the death of Pelagius, St. Gregory was chosen Pope by the unanimous consent of priests and people. Now began those labors which merited for him the title of Great. His zeal extended over the entire known world, he was in contact with all the Churches of Christendom and, in spite of his bodily sufferings, and innumerable labors, he found time to compose a great number of works. He is known above all for his magnificent contributions to the Liturgy of the Mass and Office. He is one of the four great Doctors of the Latin Church. He died March 12, 604. He is the patron of teachers.

 

Daily Quotes:

 

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."  -Aristotle

 

"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence." -Abigail Adams

 

"People usually think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and ingrained opinions, but generally act according to custom." -Francis Bacon