"It is a dangerous thing to presume upon one's own understanding, especially in matters of faith"

This quote by Pope Gregory IX is a warning versus relying too greatly on one's own understanding and judgement, particularly when it comes to matters of faith. He is cautioning versus the propensity to think that a person's own understanding transcends to that of others, or to the mentors of the Church. He is reminding us that faith is a complex and mystical thing, which it is not something to be ignored or to be understood through our own minimal point of view. He is motivating us to be modest and to acknowledge that our understanding of faith is limited, and that we need to seek guidance from those who have more knowledge and experience. Eventually, Pope Gregory IX is reminding us that faith is a journey, which it is very important to be open up to learning and growing in our understanding of it.