St. Gregory the Great, September 3
A prefect of Rome turned monk, Gregory was elected pope in 590 amid plague and invasion. He organized relief for the hungry, sent monks to evangelize England and reformed the liturgy; Gregorian chant bears his name. He died in 604 and is a Doctor of the Church.
On the General Roman Calendar, September 3 is a memorial: Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor.
Name days on September 3
In countries that keep name days, September 3 is the day for people named Gregory and Greg. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Gregory | September 3 |
| Greg | September 3 |
September 3 on the calendar
September 3 is the 246th day of the year (the 247th in a leap year), with 119 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday |
| 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | Sunday |
| 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | Tuesday |
Keeping September 3
September 3 falls in summer. As a memorial, the saint is named in the opening prayer of every Mass celebrated that day. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Gregory and Greg, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around September 3
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| August 31 | Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus |
| September 1 | St. Giles |
| September 2 | Bl. Ingrid of Skänninge |
| September 4 | St. Rosalia |
| September 5 | St. Teresa of Calcutta |
| September 6 | St. Magnus of Füssen |
The day before, September 2, is the day of Bl. Ingrid of Skänninge. The day after, September 4, belongs to St. Rosalia. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.