Jan. 2, 2012 Monday: St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen
St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen
Basil and Gregory were born around the year 329 in Asia Minor. Today we call this area Turkey. Basil’s grandmother, father, mother, two brothers and a sister are all saints. Gregory’s parents are St. Nonna and St. Gregory the Elder. Basil and Gregory met and became great friends at school in Athens, Greece.
Basil became a well-known teacher. But he wasn’t satisfied. He felt that God was calling him to live as a monk. Basil visited monasteries in Syria, Egypt and Palestine, then moved to the wilderness and started his first monastery. The rule he gave his monks was very wise. Monasteries in the East have followed it down to our own times.
Both Basil and Gregory became priests and then bishops. They often preached about the Holy Trinity, because the errors of Arianism were confusing many people. Arianism was a teaching that denied that Jesus is God.
While he was bishop of Constantinople, Gregory converted many people with his wonderful preaching. But it nearly cost him his life! Once, a young man planned to murder him. He repented at the last moment and begged Gregory’s forgiveness. Gregory did forgive him and won him over with his gentle goodness.
Forty-four of Gregory’s speeches, 243 letters and many poems were published. His writings are still important today. Many people have based their writings on his.
Gregory’s good friend Basil had a very kind and generous heart. He always found time to help the poor. He even invited poor people to help those who were worse off. “Give your last loaf of bread to the beggar at your door,” he urged, “and trust in God’s goodness.” Gregory sold his inheritance to help the poor. He also built a hospital where he visited the sick.
Basil died in 379 at the age of fifty. Gregory died in 389 at the age of sixty. He is buried in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Our education, time and talents are all gifts that God has given us. If we want to be like Saints Basil and Gregory, we can use these gifts to help the people around us become closer to God.
- Daughters of St. Pau
Basil and Gregory were born around the year 329 in Asia Minor. Today we call this area Turkey. Basil’s grandmother, father, mother, two brothers and a sister are all saints. Gregory’s parents are St. Nonna and St. Gregory the Elder. Basil and Gregory met and became great friends at school in Athens, Greece.
Basil became a well-known teacher. But he wasn’t satisfied. He felt that God was calling him to live as a monk. Basil visited monasteries in Syria, Egypt and Palestine, then moved to the wilderness and started his first monastery. The rule he gave his monks was very wise. Monasteries in the East have followed it down to our own times.
Both Basil and Gregory became priests and then bishops. They often preached about the Holy Trinity, because the errors of Arianism were confusing many people. Arianism was a teaching that denied that Jesus is God.
While he was bishop of Constantinople, Gregory converted many people with his wonderful preaching. But it nearly cost him his life! Once, a young man planned to murder him. He repented at the last moment and begged Gregory’s forgiveness. Gregory did forgive him and won him over with his gentle goodness.
Forty-four of Gregory’s speeches, 243 letters and many poems were published. His writings are still important today. Many people have based their writings on his.
Gregory’s good friend Basil had a very kind and generous heart. He always found time to help the poor. He even invited poor people to help those who were worse off. “Give your last loaf of bread to the beggar at your door,” he urged, “and trust in God’s goodness.” Gregory sold his inheritance to help the poor. He also built a hospital where he visited the sick.
Basil died in 379 at the age of fifty. Gregory died in 389 at the age of sixty. He is buried in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Our education, time and talents are all gifts that God has given us. If we want to be like Saints Basil and Gregory, we can use these gifts to help the people around us become closer to God.
- Daughters of St. Pau
