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

Arnold Smeets

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

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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
Journal	Studia Patristica
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2019
Event	XVIII International Conference on Patristic Studies Oxford - Oxford, United Kingdom Duration: 19 Aug 2019 → 24 Aug 2019 https://www.oxfordpatristics.com

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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 = "2019",

language = "English",

journal = "Studia Patristica",

issn = "0585-542X",

publisher = "Leuven University Press, Peeters",

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

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

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A Burden of Obedience?

T2 - XVIII International Conference on Patristic Studies Oxford

AU - Smeets, Arnold

PY - 2019

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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?

M3 - Article

JO - Studia Patristica

JF - Studia Patristica

SN - 0585-542X

Y2 - 19 August 2019 through 24 August 2019

ER -