Meet the Doctors: St. Gregory Nazianzus

Meet the Doctors: St. Gregory Nazianzus

From Matins of the Feast of St. Gregory Nazianzus, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor

Source: Traditional Roman Breviary (www.breviary.net)

Second Nocturn
Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum. R.  Amen.	Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever. R.  Amen.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens. R.  Amen.	Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity. R.  Amen.
Lesson iv
Nazianzus, Cappadocia
Gregórius, nóbilis Cáppadox, ex singulári divinárum Litterárum sciéntia Theólogi cognómen consecútus, Naziánzi in Cappadócia natus, Athénis in omni disciplinárum génere una cum sancto Basílío erudítus, ad stúdia sacrárum Litterárum se convértit ; in quibus se in cœnóbio per áliquot annos exercuérunt, illárum senténtiam non ex próprio ingénio, sed ex majórum ratióne et auctoritáte interpretántes.  Qui cum doctrína et vitæ sanctitáte florérent, vocáti ad munus prædicándæ evangélicæ veritátis, plúrimos Jesu Christo fílios peperérunt.	Gregory, to whom is commonly given, on account of his extraordinary depth of sacred learning, the title of The Divine, was a noble Cappadocian, born at Nazianzus in that country, and educated at Athens along with St. Basil, with whom likewise, when they had acquired knowledge in divers branches of earthly learning, he gave himself up to learn the things of God.  This they did for some years in a monastery, framing their opinions, not out of their own heads, but according to the interpretation arrived at by the wisdom and decision of the ancients.  They were both distinguished by power of doctrine and holiness of life ; they were both called to the duty of preaching the Gospel of truth ; and through the Gospel they both begat many sons unto Christ.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, allelúja. V.  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei. R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, allelúja.	R.  I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast, alleluia. V.  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him. R.  My hand shall hold him fast, alleluia.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ. R.  Amen.	Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal. R.  Amen.
Lesson v
The Church of St. Sophia, Constantinople
Gregórius ígitur, aliquándo domum revérsus, primum Sasimórum epíscopus creátus est, deínde Nazianzénam ecclésiam administrávit.  Tum Constantinópolim ad eam regéndam ecclésiam accersítus, cum civitátem hæresum purgátam erróribus ad cathólicam fidem reduxísset, quod ei summum ómnium amórem conciliáre debébat, multórum parávit invídiam.  Itaque, cum inter epíscopos magna proptérea esset facta sedítio, sponte cedens episcopátu, illud prophétæ dictum usurpávit : Si propter me commóta est ista tempéstas, dejícite me in mare, ut vos jactári desinátis.  Quare Naziánzum revérsus, cum illi ecclésiæ Eulálium præficiéndum curásset, totum se ad contemplatiónem et scriptiónem divinárum rerum cóntulit.	Gregory after a while returned home.  He was first made Bishop of Sosima, and afterwards administered the Church at Nazianzus.  Then he was called to rule the Church of Constantinople.  That city, which he found reeking with heresy, he purged, and brought again to the Catholic faith.  But this, which deserved for him the warmest love of all men, raised up many enemies.  Among the bishops themselves there was a great party against him, and to still their contentions, he, of his own free will, gave up his See, saying with the Prophet Jonah : Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea : so shall the sea be calm unto you ; for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.  So he went his way back again to Nazianzus, and when he had seen that Eulalius was set over that Church, he gave himself up altogether to think and write concerning the things of God.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
St. Gregory leaves Constantinople
R.  Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, allelúja. V.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum. R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, allelúja.	R.  I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. * My hand shall hold him fast, alleluia. V.  I have found David, my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. R.  My hand shall hold him fast, alleluia.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris. R.  Amen.	Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love. R.  Amen.
Lesson vi
Scripsit autem multa, et solúta oratióne et vérsibus, mirábili pietáte et eloquéntia ; quibus doctórum hóminum sanctorúmque judício id assecútus est, ut nihil in illis, nisi ex veræ pietátis et cathólicæ religiónis régula, reperiátur, nemo quidquam jure vocáre possit in dúbium.  Consubstantialitátis Fílii fuit acérrimus propugnátor.  Ut autem vitæ laude nemo ei præpósitus est ; sic et oratiónis gravitáte omnes fácile superávit.  In iis scribéndi ac legéndi stúdiis ruri vitam mónachi exércens, imperatóre Theodósio ad cæléstem vitam sénio conféctus migrávit.	He wrote much, both in prose and verse, with wonderful godliness and eloquence.  According to the judgment of learned and holy men, there is nothing in his writings which anywhere strays from the line of true godliness and Catholic truth, and not a single word which any one can justly call in doubt.  He was one of the latest champions of the doctrine that the Son is of one substance with the Father.  No one hath ever won greater praise for goodness of life, neither was any man more earnest in prayer.  During the reign of the Emperor Theodosius he dwelt in the country after the manner of a monk, and unceasingly taken up with writing and reading, until, in a good old age, he laid down his earthly, to enter on an heavenly life.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum, allelúja. V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna. R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum, allelúja. V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum, allelúja.	R.  This is he who wrought mighty deeds and valiant in the sight of God, and all the earth is filled with his doctrine: * May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people, alleluia. V.  He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven. R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people, alleluia. V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people, alleluia.