The extent and character of Gregory's works in connexion with the
liturgy and the music of the church is a subject of dispute. If we are
to credit a 9th century biographer, Gregory abbreviated and otherwise
simplified the Sacramentary of Gelasius, producing a revised edition
with which his own name has become associated, and which represents the
groundwork of the modern Roman Missal. But though it is certain that he
introduced three changes in the liturgy itself (viz. the addition of
some words in the prayer _Hanc igitur_, the recitation of the Pater
Noster at the end of the Canon immediately before the fraction of the
bread, and the chanting of the Allelulia after the Gradual at other
times besides the season of Easter) and two others in the ceremonial
connected therewith (forbidding deacons to perform any musical portion
of the service except the chanting of the gospel, and subdeacons to wear
chasubles), neither the external nor the internal evidence appears to
warrant belief that the Gregorian Sacramentary is his work.
Ecclesiastical tradition further ascribes to Gregory the compilation of
an Antiphonary, the revision and rearrangement of the system of church
music, and the foundation of the Roman _schola cantorum_. It is highly
doubtful, however, whether he had anything to do either with the
Antiphonary or with the invention or revival of the _cantus planus_; it
is certain that he was not the founder of the Roman singing-school,
though he may have interested himself in its endowment and extension.
Finally, as Fourth Doctor of the Latin Church, Gregory claims the
attention of theologians. He is the link between two epochs. The last of
the great Latin Fathers and the first representative of medieval
Catholicism he brings the dogmatic theology of Tertullian, Ambrose and
Augustine into relation with the Scholastic speculation of later ages.
"He connects the Graeco-Roman with the Romano-Germanic type of
Christianity." His teaching, indeed, is neither philosophical,
systematic nor truly original. Its importance lies mainly in its simple,
popular summarization of the doctrine of Augustine (whose works Gregory
had studied with infinite care, but not always with insight), and in its
detailed exposition of various religious conceptions which were current
in the Western Church, but had not hitherto been defined with precision
(e.g. the views on angelology and demonology, on purgatory, the
Eucharistic Sacrifice, and the efficacy of relics). In his exposition of
such ideas Gregory made a distinct advance upon the older theology and
influenced profoundly the dogmatic development of the future. He
imparted a life and impulse to prevailing tendencies, helping on the
construction of the system hereafter to be completed in Scholasticism.
He gave to theology a tone and emphasis which could not be disregarded.
From his time to that of Anselm no teacher of equal eminence arose in
the Church.
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