St Ambrose
Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church · Feast: 7 December
Word for the day
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
Life
Ambrose was born around 339 at Trier, in a Roman Christian family. He studied law and rhetoric and became governor of the province whose capital was Milan, then one of the great cities of the empire.
In 374 the bishop of Milan died, and the election of a successor threatened to end in riot between Catholics and Arians. Ambrose went to the church to keep order; the people began to cry out for him as bishop. He was still only a catechumen. Within about a week he was baptised, ordained and consecrated bishop.
He gave his wealth to the poor, studied the Scriptures and the Greek Fathers, and became a great preacher and writer. He introduced hymn singing to the people of Milan, and some of his hymns are still sung. He defended the faith of Nicaea and the freedom of the Church before emperors, and after the massacre at Thessalonica in 390 he required the emperor Theodosius to do public penance before receiving Communion.
His preaching helped to bring the young professor Augustine to faith, and Ambrose baptised him at the Easter Vigil of 387. He died on 4 April 397. He is one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church.
Lessons
Called unexpectedly
God called Ambrose through the voice of the people when he least expected it.
Truth before power
He corrected even the emperor, with courage and respect.
The Word nourishes
He soaked his preaching in Scripture and the Fathers.
Prayer in song
His hymns taught the faith to ordinary people.
Stories
Ambrose, bishop! (history)
In 374, while Ambrose was trying to calm a divided crowd in the cathedral of Milan, the people began to call for him as bishop, though he was not yet baptised. He tried to avoid the office but accepted it as God's will.
The emperor's penance (history)
After soldiers of Theodosius massacred thousands at Thessalonica in 390, Ambrose wrote to the emperor that he could not offer the Eucharist in his presence until he repented. Theodosius did public penance.
Augustine's teacher (history)
Augustine writes in his Confessions that he came to Milan, heard Ambrose preach, and was slowly won over to the faith. Ambrose baptised him in 387.
Words of the saint
Where Peter is, there is the Church.
St Ambrose, Commentary on Psalm 40, in substance
Homily
1. An unexpected call
God called a governor to be a bishop; He can call us in surprising ways.
2. Truth spoken with love
Ambrose corrected the emperor but welcomed his repentance.
3. Leading others to Christ
His preaching won Augustine; our words and lives can lead others.
Dear friends, St Ambrose was a successful Roman governor when the people of Milan, gathered to elect a bishop, began to shout: Ambrose, bishop! He was not even baptised. Yet he recognised in that cry the call of God, and within a week he was baptised and consecrated.
He gave away his wealth and threw himself into study and prayer. His sermons were full of Scripture, and he taught the people to sing hymns. He became one of the great teachers of the Church.
Ambrose had courage. When the emperor Theodosius ordered a massacre at Thessalonica, Ambrose told him he must do penance before receiving Communion. The emperor humbled himself and repented. Ambrose spoke the truth with love, and he rejoiced at the emperor's conversion.
His greatest fruit was a restless young man named Augustine, who came to Milan, listened to Ambrose and was baptised by him. Let us ask St Ambrose to help us speak the truth with courage and love, and to lead others to Christ by our words and lives. Amen.
Prayer
Lord God, you made St Ambrose a teacher of the faith and a model of apostolic courage; raise up in your Church shepherds after your own heart, who will guide your people with wisdom and strength. Amen.