St. Gregory, Administrator of the Diocese of Utrecht (25 August): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On August 25, Butler’s Lives of the Saints remembers St. Gregory, Administrator of the Diocese of Utrecht, a remarkable disciple of St. Boniface. Gregory was born into a noble Frankish family. At only fifteen years old, he encountered St. Boniface while reading to a community of religious women. When Boniface rose to explain the spiritual lesson and exhort those present to virtue, Gregory was so moved that he resolved immediately to forsake the world and follow him. St. Boniface became his spiritual father and teacher. Gregory accompanied him on missionary journeys and assisted in the evangelization of northern Europe. Shortly before his martyrdom, Boniface sent Gregory to Utrecht. After the deaths of St. Boniface and Bishop Eoban, Gregory was entrusted with governing the Church there. Though later writers sometimes called him bishop, Butler notes that he apparently remained a priest, administering the diocese for 22 years. One event especially reveals his sanctity. When the men who murdered his two brothers were handed over to Gregory for punishment, he did not seek revenge. Instead, he gave each murderer clothing, alms, good advice—and released them. Through preaching, prayer, mortification, meekness, humility, and patience, he helped make Utrecht one of the most flourishing churches of the region. He died after three years of serious illness on August 25, 776. St. Gregory of Utrecht, pray for us! 00:00 St. Gregory of Utrecht 00:16 His Noble Frankish Family 00:31 Religious Influence of His Grandmother 00:39 Gregory at Age Fifteen 00:47 St. Boniface Arrives 01:03 Boniface Explains the Spiritual Reading 01:20 Gregory Decides to Forsake the World 01:27 He Follows St. Boniface 01:36 His Formation and Studies 01:44 Boniface Treats Gregory Like a Son 01:51 Missionary Work With St. Boniface 02:00 Gregory Is Sent to Utrecht 02:07 Martyrdom of St. Boniface and St. Eoban 02:20 Gregory Takes Charge of Utrecht 02:29 Was St. Gregory Ever a Bishop? 02:37 22 Years Governing the Diocese as a Priest 02:45 The Murderers of His Brothers Are Brought Before Him 02:54 Gregory Forgives Them 03:03 Utrecht Flourishes Under His Care 03:11 Prayer, Mortification, Meekness & Humility 03:19 His Final Sickness and Death 03:28 Relics of St. Gregory https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/august/st-gregory-a-c-administrator-of-the-diocess-of-utrecht/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StGregoryOfUtrecht #StBoniface #CatholicSaints #SaintOfTheDay #Catholic #CatholicChurch #ChristianForgiveness #CatholicHistory #MissionarySaints #ChristianMercy #ButlersLives #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicSpirituality #Utrecht #SensusFidelium