As Pope Gregory I, he became one of the four Fathers of the Church, the others being Ambrose, Augustine and Jerome. He founded the Roman liturgy and established the Gregorian Chant as part of the Mass. He died in 604.
He made a practice of inviting 12 poor people to supper, symbolising the twelve Apostles of the Last Supper, and at one of these meals a thirteenth person appeared, who revealed himself as Christ.
Other events from his life recounted in the 'Golden Legend' are the subject of paintings. A vision of the resurrected Christ is said to have appeared to Saint Gregory at Mass.