A Burden of Obedience?: The Diaconate of Gregory the Great as Preparation for the Papacy

Arnold Smeets

doi:10.2307/j.ctv27vt5qz.7

A Burden of Obedience? The Diaconate of Gregory the Great as Preparation for the Papacy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

In several of his letters, Gregory the Great regrets the loss of monastic contemplatio as a result of his ordination as deacon and, later, bishop. With hindsight, the years he served as deacon were a preparation for the papacy. This paper explores the possibility of an alternative view on the diaconate of Gregory the Great. Not only was it far from unusual for a deacon to become the next bishop, Gregory’s background and experience made him an obvious candidate for the papacy. So, was Gregory just a reluctant deacon, or can one argue that becoming a deacon was also perceived as a logical next step?

Original language	English
Article number	4
Pages (from-to)	39-50
Number of pages	12
Journal	Studia Patristica
Volume	Volume CVI
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv27vt5qz.7
Publication status	Published - Nov 2021
Event	XVIII International Conference on Patristic Studies Oxford - Oxford, United Kingdom Duration: 19 Aug 2019 → 24 Aug 2019 https://www.oxfordpatristics.com

Access to Document

10.2307/j.ctv27vt5qz.7

Cite this

@article{eb13763525394dfdb653effe5f87de1b,

title = "A Burden of Obedience?: The Diaconate of Gregory the Great as Preparation for the Papacy",

abstract = "In several of his letters, Gregory the Great regrets the loss of monastic contemplatio as a result of his ordination as deacon and, later, bishop. With hindsight, the years he served as deacon were a preparation for the papacy. This paper explores the possibility of an alternative view on the diaconate of Gregory the Great. Not only was it far from unusual for a deacon to become the next bishop, Gregory{\textquoteright}s background and experience made him an obvious candidate for the papacy. So, was Gregory just a reluctant deacon, or can one argue that becoming a deacon was also perceived as a logical next step? ",

author = "Arnold Smeets",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

doi = "10.2307/j.ctv27vt5qz.7",

language = "English",

volume = "Volume CVI",

pages = "39--50",

journal = "Studia Patristica",

issn = "0585-542X",

publisher = "Leuven University Press, Peeters",

number = "3",

note = "XVIII International Conference on Patristic Studies Oxford ; Conference date: 19-08-2019 Through 24-08-2019",

url = "https://www.oxfordpatristics.com",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Burden of Obedience?

T2 - XVIII International Conference on Patristic Studies Oxford

AU - Smeets, Arnold

PY - 2021/11

Y1 - 2021/11

N2 - In several of his letters, Gregory the Great regrets the loss of monastic contemplatio as a result of his ordination as deacon and, later, bishop. With hindsight, the years he served as deacon were a preparation for the papacy. This paper explores the possibility of an alternative view on the diaconate of Gregory the Great. Not only was it far from unusual for a deacon to become the next bishop, Gregory’s background and experience made him an obvious candidate for the papacy. So, was Gregory just a reluctant deacon, or can one argue that becoming a deacon was also perceived as a logical next step?

AB - In several of his letters, Gregory the Great regrets the loss of monastic contemplatio as a result of his ordination as deacon and, later, bishop. With hindsight, the years he served as deacon were a preparation for the papacy. This paper explores the possibility of an alternative view on the diaconate of Gregory the Great. Not only was it far from unusual for a deacon to become the next bishop, Gregory’s background and experience made him an obvious candidate for the papacy. So, was Gregory just a reluctant deacon, or can one argue that becoming a deacon was also perceived as a logical next step?

U2 - 10.2307/j.ctv27vt5qz.7

DO - 10.2307/j.ctv27vt5qz.7

M3 - Article

VL - Volume CVI

SP - 39

EP - 50

JO - Studia Patristica

JF - Studia Patristica

SN - 0585-542X

IS - 3

M1 - 4

Y2 - 19 August 2019 through 24 August 2019

ER -

A Burden of Obedience? The Diaconate of Gregory the Great as Preparation for the Papacy

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this