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| San Gregorio VII, ora pro nobis |
Deus, in te sperántium fortitúdo, qui beátum Gregórium, Confessórem tuum atque Pontificem, pro tuénda Ecclésiæ libertáte, virtúte constántiæ roborásti: da nobis, ejus exémplo et intercessióne, ómnia adversántia fórtiter superáre. Per Dóminum.
May 25th is the Feast of San Gregorio VII (born Ildebrando di Sovana), Pope and Confessor. Ascending the papal throne on April 22, 1073, Pope Gregorio initiated many important Church reforms known as the Gregorian Reform, including clerical celibacy and the rooting out and destruction of the abuse of simony, the buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges.
Repeatedly clashing with King Henry IV (later Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire) over the right to install bishops and abbots, or the investiture controversy, Pope Gregorio excommunicated the German monarch on three separate occasions.
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| Wax effigy and relics of Pope San Gregorio VII |
In 1077 Gregorio famously made the penitent king prostate himself for three days in the cold outside the gates of Cannosa before giving him an audience. A short-lived reconciliation, after obtaining the Holy Father's forgiveness Henry continued to appoint bishops and was excommunicated again.
Entering Rome with his troops in 1084, Henry forced Gregorio to lock himself inside Castel Sant’Angelo and installed the antipope Clement III (Archbishop Guilbert of Ravenna).
Soon liberated by Roberto Guiscardo, Duke of Apulia, the wanton excesses of the Duke’s soldiery incensed the people of Rome and forced Gregorio and his Norman allies to withdraw south to Salerno.
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| (L-R) Statues of Duchess Sigelgaita, Duke Roberto d'Altavilla, St. Alfano I of Salerno, and Prince Gisulf of Salerno flank the wax effigy |
San Gregorio died in the Principality of Salerno on May 25, 1085. Interred in the Basilica Cattedrale SS. Matteo e Gregorio, which he consecrated a year earlier, his dying words, “Dilexi iustitiam, odivi iniquitatem, propterea morior in esilio" (I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile) are imprinted on the reliquary.
In celebration, I’m posting a prayer in Latin and English. The accompanying photos of the statues and wax effigy at the cathedral in Salerno comes courtesy of Andrew Giordano. Evviva San Gregorio VII!
Prayer
O God, the strength of them that trust in Thee, Who didst fortify blessed Gregory. Thy Confessor and Pontiff, with the virtue of constancy, for the defense of the liberty of the Church, grant us by his example and intercession courageously to overcome all adversities. Through our Lord.