Episode 3273: St. Gregory of Nyssa - Climbing the Ladder of the Beatitudes

St. Gregory of Nyssa: Climbing the Ladder of the Beatitudes
Sharon: Introductory Greeting
Welcome to Catholic Reboot where today’s episode we will step back into the 4th century, when the Church was still young, still defending itself against heresies, and still forming the theological foundations that we rely upon today. Our guide is St. Gregory of Nyssa (NEE-suh (like “knee-suh”). one of the great Cappadocian Fathers, alongside his brother St. Basil the Great and their close friend St. Gregory Nazianzen Naz-ee-AN-sen.
But lets start with a prayer.
Opening Prayer
“O God, who gave wisdom and eloquence to Thy holy bishop and doctor, St. Gregory of Nyssa, grant us through his intercession a deeper love of Thy Word, that we may follow Christ more faithfully and ascend the mountain of holiness. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”
Walt: Nyssa was an ancient city in Cappadocia, in what is now central Turkey.
• It was located in the Roman province of Cappadocia Secunda, near the modern-day town of Harmandalı in Turkey.
• Nyssa is most famous as the see of St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–c. 395), one of the Cappadocian Fathers along with his brother St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nazianzus.
• Together, these three saints were central defenders of the faith during the Arian controversy, especially clarifying and upholding the doctrine of the Trinity.
So, while the city itself has faded into history, it is remembered because of its association with St. Gregory of Nyssa, who is revered as one of the Church’s greatest theologians.
Unlike many bishops of his day, Gregory wasn’t a politician or a public statesman. He was, above all, a contemplative. He sought God in prayer, Scripture, and in the beauty of allegory. He is often called the Father of Christian Mysticism, because he saw the Christian life not as a one-time conversion, but as a never-ending ascent epektasis eh-PECK-tah-sis a continual climbing toward God, who is infinite.
Today, we’ll reflect on three of Gregory’s most famous contributions:
1. His Homilies on the Beatitudes.
2. His Commentary on the Lord’s Prayer.
3. His allegorical readings of the Old Testament.
Walt: Segment 1: The Beatitudes – Steps of Ascent
Gregory’s Homilies on the Beatitudes reveal a striking vision: the Beatitudes are not random sayings of Jesus, but a ladder of ascent to heaven.
• On poverty of spirit, Gregory writes: “The one who is truly poor in spirit is the one who has divested himself of the illusion of self-sufficiency, and who places all his hope in God.”
• On purity of heart, he insists: “The pure heart is like a polished mirror: when it is cleansed of the dust of sin, it reflects the glory of God.”
• On peace, Gregory says: “He who makes peace within himself makes peace with God. For when the passions are stilled, God reigns in the soul.”
Notice the progression: detachment, purification, and finally union. Gregory describes this as an upward climb, echoing Christ’s words: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” For him, the Beatitudes were a mystical map of the soul’s journey toward God.
Sharon: Segment 2: The Lord’s Prayer – A School of the Soul
In his Homilies on the Lord’s Prayer, Gregory teaches that these sacred words are not mere recitations, but the essence of Christian spirituality.
• On “Our Father”: “We call God Father not because He created us, but because we have been made sons through grace. It is Christ who has taught us this boldness of speech.”
• On “Thy kingdom come”: “We ask that the kingdom of God be established within us, so that sin may no longer reign in our mortal bodies.”
• On “Give us this day our daily bread”: Gregory beautifully links this petition to the Eucharist: “The Bread which is truly ours, which sustains eternal life, is the Bread which descended from heaven. To ask for it daily is to long for Christ Himself.”
• On “Forgive us our trespasses”: “Nothing makes us so like God as being ready to forgive the wicked and wrongdoer. As we forgive, so we open ourselves to God’s forgiveness.”
Gregory’s commentary makes clear: the Pater Noster is a blueprint for sanctity. Every line draws the Christian closer to Christ, reshaping the soul into His likeness.
Walt: Segment 3: Allegorical Readings of the Old Testament
Gregory inherited Origen’s love for allegory but purified it, ensuring it always pointed to Christ and the life of the soul.
• On Exodus, he writes: “The departure from Egypt is the renunciation of evil. The crossing of the Red Sea is baptism, where the enemy is drowned and the soul is freed.”
• On the wilderness: “The manna which sustains Israel is the divine Word, given to us daily so that we may not faint on the way.”
• On the Promised Land: “We are always traveling, always advancing. The true Promised Land is not earthly, but the eternal inheritance of God Himself.”
• On the Song of Songs: Gregory gives one of the most mystical interpretations in the Fathers. He writes: “The Bridegroom draws the soul into the chamber, and there she discovers that love is without limit, for God Himself has no end.”
For Gregory, the Old Testament is not history only it is a spiritual roadmap. Every event, every image, every symbol points forward to Christ and the soul’s union with Him.
Sharon: Segment 4: Why Gregory Matters Today
Why revisit St. Gregory of Nyssa in our age?
Because modern man seeks quick comfort, instant gratification, and shallow happiness. But Gregory tells us that the Christian life is a continual climb. We must never be content with mediocrity.
• His Beatitudes remind us that true happiness is not comfort but transformation.
• His Lord’s Prayer commentary reminds us that prayer is not words only, but a re-formation of the soul.
• His allegories remind us that Scripture is alive, with Christ hidden in every line.
Gregory’s call is simple yet radical: “The soul’s desire is satisfied by the One who is without limit. Thus, no limit would interrupt the growth in the ascent to God, since no limit to the Good can be found.”
This is the essence of Christian mysticism: never stopping, always climbing, until we see God face to face.
Walt: Closing Prayer
“O Lord, through the teaching of St. Gregory of Nyssa, may we grow ever more in the desire to see Thee face to face. Purify our hearts, strengthen our wills, and enlighten our minds with Thy truth, so that we may never tire of climbing toward Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Sharon: Closing Words
Thank you for joining us for this episode on St. Gregory of Nyssa. May his vision of unceasing ascent inspire us to live as pilgrims, climbing daily toward the infinite Love of God.