Gregory VII

Biographical overview

Gregory VII may refer to: Pope Gregory VII (c. 1015–1085) Catholicos Gregory VII of Cilicia (r. 1293–1307) Patriarch Gregory VII of Constantinople (r. 1923–1924)

The lives of the Fathers, martyrs, and other principal saints · 2 · ST. GREGORY VII., POPE, C.

Before bis exaltation to the popedom, he was called Hildebrand. He was born in Tuscany, and educated at Rome under his uncle the abbot of our Lady's, upon the Aventin hill. He went afterwards into France, and embraced the monastic state at Cluni. Being called back to Rome, he sig- nalized himself by his zeal, sanctity, and learning, and preached with great reputation and fruit in the court of the pious emperor Henry III., surnamed the Black. The holy pope, St. Leo IX., had the highest esteem for him, often followed his counsels, ordained him subdeacon, and made him abbot of St. Paul's, which church then belonged to a very small community of monks, and lay at that time almost in ruins, the greatest part of its revenues being usurped by powerful laymen. Hildebrand recovered its lands, and restored the monastery to its ancient splendor. In 1054, he was sent by Pope Victor II., legate into France, in order to abolish the practice of simony in the col- lation of ecclesiastical benefices. He held for this purpose a council at Lyons, in which a certain bishop, who was accused of simony, denied the crime with which he was charged. The legate bade him recite the Glory be to the Father, which the bishop readily endeavored to do. But he was never able to pronounce the name of the Holy Ghost. At this miraculous conviction he was struck with remorse and confusion, and casting him>elf at the legate's feet, humbly confessed his crime. This is related by pope Calixtus II., St. Hugh of Cluni, William of Malmesbury, and St. Peter Damian,1 and the last-mentioned author assures us that he had the account from Hildebrand's own mouth. The legate presided also in the council ol Tours, in which Berengarius retracted and condemned the heresy which he had broached relating to the holy eucharist.8 Pope Stephen IV. sent him on an embassy to the empress, and dying, ordered his return to be waited for, and his advice to b. followed in the election of a new pope. By his direc- tion, Nicholas II., and after his death, in 1061, Alexander II., were placed in St. Peter's chair. This latter dying in 1073, Hildebrand, then archdea con, was by compulsion exalted to the papacy. He left nothing unattempted to keep off that heavy burden from his shoulders, and among other expe die; ts wrote t> Henry IV., king of Germany, who was then in Bavaria, eu

i Opusc. 19, c. 6.

■ Anoavm. Chifflet. de mn!ti"!:r damnat. Ber >ngarius, et Paet ad nnn. 1055. n. 5