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Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de BerryThe Procession of Saint Gregory Folio 71v

This subject could not have been originally planned for the Très Riches Heures since only one text column, not enough space for a large miniature, remained free between the end of the Penitential Psalms and the beginning of the Litanies of the Saints. However, the Limbourgs ingeniously used this column to paint a large double-page miniature, which they placed at the beginning of the Litanies since the Procession of Saint Gregory was known as "The Great Litany, " or "The Great Supplication."
The scene is based on The Golden Legend. At the time of Gregory's election to the papacy in 590, Rome was ravaged by the plague. The newly elected Pope, later known as Gregory the Great, ordered a procession around the city to entreat the heavens to end their affliction. While praying at the head of the procession, Gregory saw an angel appear on the top of the citadel and sheathe a bloodstained sword. He understood the plague was coming to an end; thereafter the citadel, formerly Hadrian's mausoleum, was called the Castel Sant'Angelo, or the Castle of the Holy Angel.
The artists have shown the procession passing before the city walls, led by priests, one of whom has just fallen victim to the plague, and by deacons wearing banners.
Wearing the papal tiara, the Pope follows and implores Heaven with both arms. Behind him come the cardinals, beside whom lies a monk, also felled by the scourge. The procession ends, with a crowd thronging through the city gates.
Beyond the walls are the monuments of Rome as imagined by the Limbourgs, who in fact probably never saw them. Instead of the actual squat and massive Castel Sant'Angelo, they have depicted a slender building on which the angel appears sheathing his sword.
The Limbourgs did not complete this large miniature. The design and coloring of the sky, buildings, and figures, as well as the execution of the faces on the left-hand page, undoubtedly reveal their mastery.
However, the round, somewhat dazed physiognomies on the facing page are in the style of Jean Colombe. As in folio 9v, the fact that the faces were obviously painted last attests to the miniaturists' procedure of work.

small image (39KB) --- large image (271KB) --- Architectural detail (large) (232KB) --- The angel sheathing his sword (large) (209KB) --- The procession (large) (248KB) --- Pope Gregory the Great (large) (242KB)

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St. Gregory the Dialogist, as we call him in the East, is one of my favorite Popes of Rome. Not only did he give the West a nice system of tones comparable to the liturgical music of the East, he also composed the Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy still used on weekdays during Great Lent by all Orthodox Christians.

He is also beloved of the Orthodox because of some comments he made regarding the relationship of the Roman Papacy to the other sees of Christendom, but I will not seek to provoke controversy by citing those here.

Troparion of St Gregory tone 3

Thou didst excellently dispense the Word of God,/ endowed with discretion of speech, O Hierarch Gregory:/ for by thy life thou didst set the virtues before us,/ and dost radiate the brightness of holiness ./ O righteous Father, pray to Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Kontakion of St Gregory tone 8

We praise thee, God-inspired harp of the Church and God-possessed tongue of wisdom;/ for thou didst prove to be an image and model of the Apostles and didst emulate their zeal./ Wherefore we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Gregory the Dialogist.

St. Leo the Great

St. Leo the Great
Feast Day: November 10, 2007
(d. 461)

With apparent strong conviction of the importance of the Bishop of Rome in the Church, and of the Church as the ongoing sign of Christ’s presence in the world, Leo the Great displayed endless dedication in his role as pope. Elected in 440, he worked tirelessly as "Peter’s successor," guiding his fellow bishops as "equals in the episcopacy and infirmities."
     Leo is known as one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church. His work branched into four main areas, indicative of his notion of the pope’s total responsibility for the flock of Christ. He worked at length to control the heresies of Pelagianism, Manichaeism and others, placing demands on their followers so as to secure true Christian beliefs. A second major area of his concern was doctrinal controversy in the Church in the East, to which he responded with a classic letter setting down the Church’s teaching on the nature of Christ. With strong faith, he also led the defense of Rome against barbarian attack, taking the role of peacemaker.
     In these three areas, Leo’s work has been highly regarded. His growth to sainthood has its basis in the spiritual depth with which he approached the pastoral care of his people, which was the fourth focus of his work. He is known for his spiritually profound sermons. An instrument of the call to holiness, well-versed in Scripture and ecclesiastical awareness, Leo had the ability to reach the everyday needs and interests of his people. One of his Christmas sermons is still famous today.

Comment:

     At a time when there is widespread criticism of Church structures, we also hear criticism that bishops and priests—indeed, all of us—are too preoccupied with administration of temporal matters. Pope Leo is an example of a great administrator who used his talents in areas where spirit and structure are inseparably combined: doctrine, peace and pastoral care. He avoided an "angelism" that tries to live without the body, as well as the "practicality" that deals only in externals.