Educated by the finest teachers in Rome, Italy, Gregory was elected
Prefect of Rome for a
year. Then, he sold his possessions, turned his home into a Benedictine
monastery, and used his money to build six monasteries in Sicily and
one in Rome.
Elected 64th Pope by unanimous acclamation on 3 September 590, the
first monk to be chosen. Sent Saint Augustine of Canterbury and a
company of monks to evangelize England, and other missionaries to
France, Spain, and Africa. Collected the melodies and plain chant so
associated with him that they are now known as Gregorian Chants. One of
the four great Doctors of the Latin Church.
Considered the patron saint of choir boys, masons, musicians, Popes,
schoolchildren, singers, and stonecutters.
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