Gregory the Great: the good leader "pleases and does not please"

March 12 is the Episcopal Church commemoration of Gregory the Great (d. 12 March 604). His historical impact on Christianity in England is our primary focus, but his influence throughout the global Christian witness is considerable.

Here are thoughts from his Book of Pastoral Rule, II.8, Demacopoulous trans.

...it is important that the spiritual director be vigilant that he is not assailed by a desire to please others, or else even though he might carefully penetrate the things of the internal life and provide for what is necessary of external concerns, he seeks the love of the laity more than he seeks the Truth [Christ]; or supported by his good works and appearing to be otherworldly, his love of self separates him from his Creator... For indeed, a servant is guilty of adulterous thoughts if he desires to please the eyes of the bride [the church] when he is sent by the groom [Christ] to offer gifts...

...[such leaders] cherish with bland flattery the souls that are slipping from their rectitude and reclining in the pleasures of the world...

...the [leader] who plans for evil behavior and yet expects others to be silent is a witness to the fact that he loves himself more than the Truth, which he does not wish to face...

...[The Apostle Paul] manifests his secret affection for us, saying: "And so I please all men in all things." And again, he says: "If I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Paul, therefore, pleases and does not please, because by desiring to please, he does not desire it for himself, but so that through him the Truth might please others.