St. Gregory the Great was born around 540 in Rome. At the age of 34, he was appointed Chief Magistrate of Rome, a position he left after one year to pursue a life of monasticism. He founded seven monasteries - six in Sicily and another in his home in Rome. The Roman monastery became the Benedictine Monastery of St. Andrew.

He was elected pope in 590, the first monk to be elected to the papacy. The Western world was in a great state of turmoil during Gregory's reign. Italy was being invaded by the Lombards and peace was restored after Gregory negotiated an agreement with a Lombard duke. Gregory had been in the unusual position of responsibility for the welfare of the Italian citizens, which had never been delegated to a pope before him. His understanding of scripture had an enormous influence on the intellectual and spiritual life during the Middle Ages.

He died on March 12, 604. Gregory is one of the four great doctors of the Latin Church and is one of two popes to be assigned the name "Great." St. Leo I the Great is the other. Gregory is considered the last Latin "Father" of the Western Church. He also is well known for his role in the creation of the musical worship form known as the Gregorian chant.

Dialogues, Pastoral Rule and Morals of Job are just part of the vast literary collection that Gregory created during his lifetime. Dialogues is considered a valuable study of life in the Middle Ages.