St. Gregory of Nazianzen

Today the Church celebrates two bishops of the early church, who have also been declared doctors of the Church--the one named above and St. Basil the Great. The second reading from the Office of Readings is taken from a homily by St. Gregory and it struck me as I re-read it. "Our rivalry [between Gregory and Basil] consisted, not in seeking the first place for oneself but in yielding it to the other, for we each looked on the other's success as his own." I have found this to be true in my time in seminary formation. One of the most beautiful parts of seminary formation is knowing that what I am learning is not just for my own personal gain but for the good of the Church. This day brings me back to two years ago when I was able to go to Rome and I was able to be at the Basilica of St. Peter for mass and I was surprised to find out that St. Gregory is buried in the Basilica. The picture that I have posted above is of his grave.