(c.950-c.1005) Gregory lived in the Kingdom of Vaspurakan, an Armenian kingdom in modern-day Turkey. His mother died when he was young, and his widowed father was made a bishop in the Armenian Apostolic Church. Gregory was educated at the monastery in Narek, where he became a monastic priest and taught theology for the rest of his life. Gregory was known for his commentaries, writings, hymns, poems, and music, and one of his most celebrated works is his Book of Lamentations on man’s separation from God and the soul’s desperate hope to reunite with Him. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015.
Our defects of character appear to amplify the distance between God and us. We forget we are created from love, and God’s love for us is always perfect. The desire to reunite should be born from love, not from pride or needing to prove our worth. Do you strive for goodness out of love for God or for some other motivation?
“You who came not to destroy our mortal souls, but to give them life, forgive my countless wrongs with your abundant mercy” (Saint Gregory of Narek).
Reflection by Brad Farmer