Customer Reviews

11. St. Gregory the Great, Pastoral Care (Ancient Christian Writers)

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Until the 20th Century, it was custormary for all newly elected bishops to receive a copy of this book, not merely as a manual of care for their flock, but as a challenge to maintain their own integrity of soul, their first love, in the pressures and temptations of ministry and its attendant power. The sad trend of financial, sexual, and other scandals that have rocked every denomination in the last 20 years could be reversed by returning to the "ancient wisdom" of requiring all ministers to read and re-read this wonderful book. Maybe you have a pastor, priest, or other spiritual leader in your life who could use a little encouragement and wisdom about "taking the plank" out of his/her own eye while they help their flock attend to the "specks"? You won't regret the price or time spent on this classic.

CAUTION ALL CLERGY:

This book will make you completely aware of your own inadequacies! It will also inspire you, and demonstrate your need to rely on Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest for your strength.

I read this book in seminary -- not as a class resource or as an academic exercise, but in chapel as a spiritual discipline. It made a profound impact on my life, and has, I hope, made me a better priest.

I highly recommend it to members of the clergy or to lay leaders of any denomination.

. . .for any and all members of the clergy -- regardless of their denominational affiliation.

Over the last quarter-century or so, it seems like one cannot pick up a newspaper without reading about yet another scandal by yet another member of the clergy. I firmly believe that if upon ordination/licensing, etc., the new clergyman would read this book and take it to heart, much trouble could be avoided.

Gregory the Great did not seek to become the Bishop of Rome. He did not want the post, nor did he feel himself worthy for the honor. This book was written partly as an apology as to why he did not wish for the honor -- and partly as an instruction manual as to how the clergy should behave, and how they should counsel and treat those who are in sin and/or who come to him for guidance.

Although, due to human sinfulness, the Church no longer speaks with a united voice, Christians of all backgrounds and faiths would benefit from this book. I cannot recommend this volume highly enough.

This is an excellent work but I just thought I would let people know that this translation by Henry Davis, Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, Heythrop College, England was done in 1950. Pastors and seminarians may find the scholarly level of Davis's vocabulary a bit difficult going. For example, "This dread, while keeping the mind of the ruler humble, purifies it also, lest it be either lifted up by spiritual presumption, or tainted with the delight of the flesh, or obscured by the importunity of unclean thought through cupidity for earthly things" (p. 47-48).

There is a 2007 translation by George Demacopoulos you might want to consider instead. Here is the Amazon link: The Book of Pastoral Rule: St. Gregory the Great (Popular Patristics Series).

About the different titles:
"Since its first translation into English in the ninth century we have continued to call this book 'Pastoral Care,' a title which is most probably derived from its opening words: Pastoralis curae ... But the author, Gregory the Great, ... refers to it as 'Liber Regulae Pastoralis,' the 'Book of Pastoral Rule'" (page 3 of the introduction of the Davis translation).

Modernists tend to dismiss anything not written or spoken before the year 2000, however we find great and wise teachings long before the silliness of Freud. I was continually surprised at what a learned from the pages of this book. Anyone, clergy or lay, who is engaged in counseling should have this has part of his library of good books.

The book came in a timely fashion. I recommend this company and the book that I purchased. God bless you.

My husband is a Deacon in the ROAC church and we are starting a mission group in our area. With the new members that we have been meeting with this book has been a great inspiration to him. It has concrete things that he can use in his every day affairs.

In the Orthodox Church St Gregory is known as St Gregory Dialogos. He is mostly known for being the author of the Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified gifts used during Great Lent. Many of his "dialogues" are to be found in the classic Byzantine work "Evergetinos", but his work "Pastoral Care" certainly is worth a read. Practical, specifically addressing Pastoral issues makes it a good primer. The Latin misconception of "original sin" instead of "ancestral sin" deprives it of its 5th star.