The Book of Pastoral Rule: St. Gregory the Great

Recognized as the most thorough pastoral treatise of the patristic era, this sixth-century work by St Gregory the Great carefully details the duties and obligations of the clergy concerning the spiritual formation of their flock.

"Pastoral Rule has served for generations of Christian readers in East and West as a moving, comprehensive description of ministry in the Church. This new translation by George Demacopoulos-the first in English in more than fifty years-is lively and accurate, and makes this early Christian classic once again available to us all... Required reading for all pastors! " - Brian Daley, S.J.

"Pope St Gregory the Great is among the Latin fathers perhaps the closest to the Greeks, and his Pastoral Rule brings out this affinity and shows us Gregory as a true pontifex, that is, 'bridge-builder,' between East and West." - Andrew Louth

About the Editor/Translator: George E. Demacopoulos is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Fordham University and author of Five Models of Spiritual Direction in the Early Church.

St. Gregory the Great, also called Saint Gregory I, (born c. 540, Rome [Italy]—died March 12, 604, Rome), pope from 590 to 604, reformer and excellent administrator, “founder” of the medieval papacy, which exercised both secular and spiritual power. His epithet “the Great” reflects his status as a writer as well as a ruler. As the fourth and final of the traditional Latin Fathers of the Church, Gregory was the first exponent of a truly medieval, sacramental spirituality.