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St. Gregory

"He was born in Cappadocia; and his parents gave him the strongest impressions of piety in his tender age. His chief study from his infancy, was to know God by the help of pious books. While he studied at Athens he formed a strict and holy friendship with the great St. Basil. They were to each other a mutual spur to all good; and by a holy emulation, neither of them would be outdone by the other in fasting, prayer, or the exercise of any virtue. Eminent for his great virtue and learning, St. Gregory was made bishop of Nazianzum; and afterwards called to the charge of the church of Constantinople. There, by his zealous labours having freed that people from Arianism, and other prevailing errors of that time, instead of meeting with peace to reward his charity, he found himself in the midst of many adversaries, such as discontent and envy had raised up against him. Wherefore, observing that upon his account the peace of the Eastern Church was disturbed, for the preventing greater mischiefs he returned to Nazianzum: and having committed the care of that flock to the hand of a faithful pastor, he ended his days in the retirement of a monastic life, in the year 389.

Pray for all the prelates and pastors of Christ's Church; that with the zeal of this holy man they may be watchful in all the concerns of their flock, for the encouragement of virtue and truth, and suppressing of whatever is contrary to the gospel. Pray for yourself, that being assisted by the divine grace, you may be faithful in your charge, whatever it be. And be not surprised, if, when wholly taken up with the obligations of your state, you meet with opposition. This is to be expected from the envy of some, or the weakness or indiscretion of others. The world is either so foolish, or wicked, as to give better quarter to those who do ill, than to the zealous and upright Christian: but he ought rather to rejoice than be discouraged. Learn in the midst of clamours to go on unconcerned, without engaging in contention; and never yield, but when required by a more public good." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother