The Church Must Be Free
From a letter by Saint Gregory VII, pope (1028-1085)
The Church must be free, chaste and catholic
Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California
I beg and implore in the Lord Jesus, who redeemed us by his death, that by careful investigation you may become aware of the trial and distresses brought on me by the enemies of Christianity and understand why and how I endure them.
By God’s will Mother Church placed me in my unworthiness (and God knows that I was unwilling, too) upon the apostolic throne, and with all my powers I have tried to see that the holy Church, the bride of God, our lady and mother, might return to the beauty which is rightly hers and remain free, chaste and catholic. But, because this so greatly displeases our ancient foe, he has armed his minions against us so that they might overturn all our efforts. What he has been unable to do from the days of Constantine the Great he now does against us and particularly against the Apostolic See. Do not be surprised that, as the time goes on, he will fight all the harder to wipe out the Christian religion.
But now, my dearest brothers, listen carefully to what I tell you. All those throughout the world who are numbered as Christian and who truly acknowledge the Christian faith know and believe that the blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, is the father of all Christians and, after Christ, the first shepherd, and that the holy Roman Church is the mother and teacher of all the churches. Therefore, if you believe this and hold to it without hesitation, I ask you and enjoin upon you by Almighty God – I, your brother and your unworthy teacher as I am – to support and assist your father and your mother if you wish to have, through them, the remission of all your sins, along with blessing and grace in this world and in the life to come.
May almighty God, from whom all good things come, continually enlighten your minds and fill them with love for him and for your neighbor, so that by your devotion you may deserve to make this father and mother of whom I have spoken your debtors and enter without shame into their company. Amen.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
Saint Gregory VII (Hildebrand) (1028-1085) was born in Tuscany about the year 1028. He was educated at Rome and entered the monastic life. He helped the popes of his time through many missions on behalf of Church reform, and in 1073 ascended to the chair of Saint Peter under the name of Gregory VII. He was besieged by King Henry IV, the German King and Roman Emperor in a conflict forced by the emperor’s schism. Gregory excommunicated Henry and all of his ecclesiastical supporters. In 1084, following Normans attacks and severe political disturbances in Rome, Gregory was compelled to leave Rome and withdrew to the monastery at Monte Cassino. He then stayed at the castle of Salerno by the sea. He died there a year later in 1085 at the age of 57. His last words were: “I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile.”