May 23rd - Saint Gregory VII By: Jonathan Alapatt

St. Gregory VII was born as Hildebrand of Sovana, in central Italy, in 1015 and he was the son of a blacksmith. His teachers were Lawrence, archbishop of Almalfi, Italy and Johannes Gratianus, the future pope. When Holy Roman Emperor Henry III deposed Johannes, Hildebrand followed him to Germany. Between 1058 and 1059, he was made archdeacon of the Roman church, becoming the most important figure in the papal administration.  Pope Gregory was one of the only popes elected by the proclamation of the people. When the people proclaimed him pope, he ran away, scared and shocked, but soon, the people found him. He had many conflicts with Henry IV, son of Henry III because of Henry IV’s political power struggles. He did many good deeds and reforms as a pope and died on May 25, 1085.

Though many hated him and wanted to remove him from his position, Gregory held strong in faith. Likewise, we should be strong in our faith when times are rough.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

I believe in my heart and openly profess that the bread and wine that are placed on the altar are, through the mystery of the sacred prayer and the words of the Redeemer, substantially changed into the true and proper and lifegiving flesh and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, and that after the consecration they are the true body of Christ.