• March 9th - St. Gregory of Nyssa

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Thu Mar 8 09:04:35 2018
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    March 9th - St. Gregory of Nyssa

    10 January (Eastern calendar)
    14 October (Coptic calendar)
    22 November (Coptic calendar)

    Gregory was the child of an illustrious 4th century family of C=C3=A6sarea,
    in Cappadocia, Greece. His parents, St. Basil the Elder and St.
    Emmelia apparently died when he was young because he was raised by his
    brother, St. Basil of C=C3=A6sarea and his sister, St. Macrina (July 19th).
    His younger brother, Peter of Sebaste (January 9th) also became a
    saint.

    He received an excellent education and was especially astute as a
    philosopher. He initially decided to direct his life to the service of
    the Church and was ordained reader, but then decided to follow in his
    father's footsteps and became a rhetorician and married Theosebeia.
    The couple apparently never had any children. Gregory became
    disillusioned by his colleagues who seemed more interested in military distinction than in academics.

    Gregory was influenced by his friend Gregory of Nazianzus to return to
    the service of the Church and subsequently he was ordained to the
    priesthood. One tradition says that he and his wife lived a celibate
    life together. Another tells us that Theosebeia entered the convent
    which had been founded by Gregory's sister, Macrina.

    After his wife's death, Gregory entered the monastery, which his
    brother, Basil, had founded. In 371 he was consecrated bishop of Nyssa
    by Basil. This was at the height of the Arian heresy. Gregory did not
    have his brother's administrative abilities and another cleric who
    wanted the bishopric accused him of negligence in the finances of the
    diocese. Although he was proven innocent, he was deposed by an Arian
    dominated synod in 376. However, in 378 he returned to Nyssa and in
    379, when his brother Basil died, Gregory took over his work against
    the Arian Heresy. He had a strong influence at the Council of Antioch
    in 379.

    Gregory was appointed metropolitan of C=C3=A6sarea in 380 and it was during this time that his holiness and great philosophic abilities came to be recognized. At the General Council of Constantinople in 381, he was
    considered a mainstay of the orthodox Church and greatly influenced
    the downfall of the Arian heresy. The details of his death are
    uncertain, but it is believed that he died at Constantinople, in 394.
    His feast is usually celebrated on March 9th.

    Perhaps Gregory is best known for his writings. Although some
    attributed to him are uncertain, there were many authentic writings of
    major importance. He is greatly admired for his eloquent use of words
    and his accurate exposition of the Christian faith. Many of his
    writings were a refutation of heresies such as the Arian and the
    Apollinarian controversy, among them the "Antirrheticuc adversus" and
    the "Adversus Apollinaristas," both of which refuted the idea of "two
    sons of God."

    The major portion of his treatises was focused on the exposition of
    Scripture. One can see his keen mind and his well-grounded
    understanding of Greek philosophy. Unfortunately Gregory was
    influenced by Originist tradition which led him to take some positions
    which have not been fully accepted by later theologians. Yet his
    dogmatic writings are highly orthodox. He is considered by some to be
    the "Father" of mystical theology. Many of his writings are a mixture
    of everyday ideas with intricate mystical and poetical reflections.

    A good many of his writings survive:

    Answer to Eunomius' Second Book
    On the Holy Spirit (Against the Followers of Macedonius)
    On the Holy Trinity, and of the Godhead of the Holy Spirit
    On "Not Three Gods" (To Ablabius)
    On the Faith (To Simplicius)
    Funeral Oration on Meletius
    On the Baptism of Christ (Sermon for the Day of Lights)
    Letters
    Canonical Epistle to St. Letoius

    He surpasses the other Cappadocian fathers in the depth and richness
    of his philosophy and theology and the appeal of his ascetical works.
    On the Soul and the Resurrection is in the form of a dialogue with his
    sister Macrina, and another dialogue, Against Fate, shows what a hold
    astrology had on people's minds. His ascetical works, such as the Life
    of Moses, and his sermons on the Song of Songs are well reputed.

    One of his letters has a special interest in that it shows that the
    custom of religious pilgrimage was already being seriously abused at
    the end of the fourth century. A selection of translated texts from
    Gregory's mystical writings, under the title From =E2=80=9CGlory to Glory= =E2=80=9D,
    was published in 1963. Overall, Gregory's writings are remarkable for
    depth of thought and lucidity of expression. Of the three 'great Cappadocians'--Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory of Nyssa--he is the
    least prolific but the most profound.

    Gregory was in Constantinople on several further occasions. At the
    imperial court his eloquence was so highly esteemed that he was asked
    to deliver the eulogy for the wife of Theodosius the Great and for his
    daughter Pulcheria. The last account we have of him relates to his
    appearance at a synod in Constantinople in 394. Presumably he died
    soon after this, probably on January 10, the date on which the Greeks
    have always kept his feast.

    Apparently there is some debate about Gregory's relationship with his
    wife following his episcopal consecration. Some imagine that he
    continued to cohabit with her. But Saint Jerome testifies that the
    custom of the eastern churches did not suffer such a thing. She seems
    to have lived to see him ordained a bishop, and to have died about the
    year 384; but she professed a state of continency (Attwater,
    Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth, Schamoni).


    Saint Quote:
    "Just as the sun shines simultaneously on the tall cedars and on each
    little flower as though it were alone on the earth, so Our Lord is
    occupied particularly with each soul as though there were no others
    like it."
    --St. Therese of the Child Jesus "Story of a Soul" (p. 14)

    Bible Quote
    But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul
    talk from your mouth. [Colossians 3:8] RSVCE


    <><><><>
    Hail, Saving Victim

    Hail saving Victim, offered for me and for all mankind upon
    the scaffold of the Cross. Hail, Precious Blood, flowing from
    the wounds of our crucified Lord, Jesus Christ, and washing
    away the sins of the whole world. Remember, O Lord, Thy
    creature, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy Precious Blood.

    THE RACCOLTA
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