Nauka o cnotach w „Dialogach” św. Grzegorza Wielkiego

Pope Gregory the Great, in his only hagiographical work, the Dialogues, left elaborate teaching on virtues. It is practical to the core and bears a clear pedagogical intention. Gregory wanted the Dialogues readers, prevalently monks, to be granted an encouragement to live a virtuous life. The paramount virtue is humility, which stands at the root of any other virtue. The other important virtues described in Dialogues are poverty, chastity and obedience. Furthermore, as a specific mark of Gregory’s spirituality, the virtue of gravity occurs. The countless examples of saints, mentioned in the Dialogues, are an invitation to live in a close relationship with God since every virtue depends on the grace of God. In this respect, Gregory is an heir of Augustine’s teaching on grace, according to which grace precedes every single good deed of man.