DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH ST. GREGORY NAREK
DFW Catholic
April 14 2015
On Sunday Pope Francis formally proclaimed the Armenian Saint Gregory
Narek a Doctor of the Church. This exceedingly rare title is given
to a saint whose writings are particularly useful for the building
up of believers.
St. Gregory’s Lamentations are honest and frank, reverent, sincere,
and emotional. They can be read here.
12:2 Not only do I call, but I believe in the Lord’s greatness. I
pray not only for his rewards but also for himself, the essence of
life, guarantor of giving and taking of breath without whom there is
no movement, no progress, to whom I am tied not so much by the knot
of hope as by the bonds of love. I long not so much for the gifts as
for the giver. I yearn not so much for the glory as the glorified. I
burn not so much with the desire for life as in memory of the giver
of life. I sigh not so much with the rapture of splendor as with the
heartfelt fervor for its maker. I seek not so much for rest as for
the face of our comforter. I pine not so much for the bridal feast
as for the distress of the groom, through whose strength I wait with
certain expectation believing with unwavering hope that in spite of
the weight of my transgressions I shall be saved by the Lord’s mighty
hand and that I will not only receive remission of sins but that I
will see the Lord himself in his mercy and compassion and receive
the legacy of heaven although I richly deserve to be disowned.
From: Baghdasarian