St. Gregory Barbarigo

Gregory Barbarigo is one of those saints whose life looks quiet until you notice how much good is actually being held together by one disciplined, charitable man. Born in Venice in 1625 into an old noble family, he first appears in public affairs rather than in a sacristy. While still young he accompanied the Venetian ambassador to the Congress of Munster, where the Thirty Years' War was finally brought to a close. There he met the nuncio Fabio Chigi, later Pope Alexander VII, and that friendship changed the whole direction of his life. In 1657 Gregory was made bishop of Bergamo, in 1660 cardinal, and in 1664 bishop of Padua. From there his life became steadily pastoral. He governed like a reforming bishop of the old school, after the manner of Charles Borromeo: visiting, guiding, correcting, and building.

He was hard only on himself and notably gentle with everyone else, especially the poor and the distressed. His almsgiving was immense, but he was not merely generous in passing. He also believed charity must be strengthened by institutions that outlast one lifetime. He founded a college, strengthened the seminary, equipped it with its own printing press, and gathered a learned library rich in scripture and the fathers. Gregory is not remembered for visions or dramatic persecution, but for using rank, money, learning, and administrative power cleanly for the cure of souls. He died peacefully in 1697 with the reputation of a shepherd who spent himself in a durable, orderly, and deeply charitable pastoral life.