Pope Gregory I Quotes

The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind's eye. In it we see our inner face. From the Scriptures we can learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how far we are from perfection.

You don't climb a mountain in leaps and bounds, but by taking it slowly.

If the work of God could be comprehended by reason, it would no longer be wonderful, and faith would have no merit if reason provided proof.

Have confidence in the compassion of our Creator. Reflect well on what you are now doing, and keep before you the things you have done. Lift up your eyes to the overflowing compassion of heaven, and while He waits for you, draw near in tears to our merciful Judge. Having before your mind that He is a Just Judge, do not take your sins lightly; and having also in mind that He is compassionate, do not despair. The God-Man gives man confidence before God.

Act in such a way that your humility may not be weakness, nor your authority be severity. Justice must be accompanied by humility, that humility may render justice lovable.

The universe is not rich enough to buy the vote of an honest man.

The only true riches are those that make us rich in virtue. Therefore, if you want to be rich, beloved, love true riches. If you aspire to the heights of real honor, strive to reach the kingdom of Heaven. If you value rank and renown, hasten to be enrolled in the heavenly court of the Angels.

You cannot acquire the gift of peace if by your anger you destroy the peace of the Lord.

If the intention is unclean, the deed that follows from it will also be evil, even if it seems good.

We make Idols of our concepts, but Wisdom is born of wonder

Obedience is the only virtue that plants the other virtues in the heart and preserves them after they have been planted.

Ignorance is a dangerous and spiritual poison, which all men ought warily to shun.

The Bible is a stream of running water, where alike the elephant may swim, and the lamb walk without losing its feet.

We ascend to the heights of contemplation by the steps of action.

Affliction strengthens the vigor of our soul, whereas happiness weakens it.

The greatness of contemplation can be given to none but those who love.

There are in truth three states of the converted: the beginning, the middle, and the perfection. In the beginning they experience the charms of sweetness; in the middle the contests of temptation; and in the end the fullness of perfection.

To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done, and to do no evil to bewail.

If we are, in fact, now occupied in good deeds, we should not attribute the strength with which we are doing them to ourselves. We must not count on ourselves, because even if we know what kind of person we are today, we do not know what we will be tomorrow.

There is more joy in heaven over a converted sinner than over a righteous person standing firm. A leader in battle has more love for a soldier who returns after fleeing, and who valiantly pursues the enemy, than for one who never turned back, but who never acted valiantly either. A farmer has greater love for land which bears fruitfully, after he has cleared it of thorns, than for land which never had thorns but which never yielded a fruitful harvest.

The human mind is prone to pride even when not supported by power; how much more, then, does it exalt itself when it has that support?

What do they not see, who see Him Who sees all things?

The holy universal Church teaches that it is not possible to worship God truly except in Her and asserts that all who are outside of Her will not be saved.

The pastor should always be pure in thought ... no impurity ought to pollute him who has undertaken the office of wiping away the stains in the hearts of others ... for the hand that would cleanse from dirt must be clean, lest, being itself sordid with clinging mire, it soil whatever it touches all the more.