Spiritual Perfection in the Teaching of St. Gregory the Great

The article discusses the question of spiritual perfection in the teaching of St. Gregory the Great. Pope Gregory teaches that spiritual perfection consists in possession of virtues as spiritual goods. According to St. Gregory’s teaching, there are three groups of virtues: cardinal virtues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and theological virtues. e activity of theological virtues on the basis of the cardinal virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit gives and asserts the fullness and perfection (perfectionis summa) to the internal life of the Christian. Such state of the person means that he/she leads supernatu- ral life distinct from natural life which the unjust people also live. Gregory the Great is convinced that a person who stays in the state of spiritual perfection, also stays between the two worlds: the world of celestial perfection and the world of earthly imperfection. e Pope calls such state of the virtuous person a suspense (suspendium) between earth and heaven.