Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church

( 340 - 397 AD )


Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was born in the year 340 into the family of the Roman governor of Gaul (now France). Even in the saint's childhood there appeared presentiments of his great future. Thus, one time bees covered the face of the sleeping infant and they flew away after leaving honey on his tongue.

After the death of the father of the family, Ambrose journeyed off to Rome, where the future saint and his brother Satyrus received a most excellent, for their time, law education. About the year 370, upon completion of his course of study, Ambrose was appointed to the official position of governor (consular prefect) of districts of Liguria and AEmilia, though he continued to live at Mediolanum (now Milan).

In the year 374 the bishop of Mediolanum, Auxentius, died. This entailed complications between the Orthodox and the Arians, since each side wanted to have its own bishop. Ambrose, as the chief city official, set off to the church for presiding over the agenda. When he turned from speaking to the crowd, suddenly some child cried out: "Ambrose -- bishop!" The people took up this chant. Ambrose, who at this time was still in the rank of the catechumens, considered himself unworthy, and began to refuse. He attempted falsely to disparage himself, and moreover tried to flee from Mediolanum. The matter went ultimately before the emperor Valentinian the Elder (364-375), whose orders Ambrose dared not disobey. He accepted holy Baptism from an Orthodox priest and -- having in a mere seven days passed through all the ranks of the Church clergy, on 7 December 374 he was ordained to the dignity of bishop of Mediolanum and at once he dispersed all his possessions, money and property for the embellishment of churches, the upkeep of orphans and the poor, and he turned himself towards a strict ascetic life.

Ambrose combined strict temperance, intense vigilance and work within the fulfilling of his duties as pastor. Saint Ambrose, defending the unity of the Church, energetically opposed the spread of heresy. Thus, in the year 379 he traveled off to set up an Orthodox bishop at Sirmium, and in 385-386 he refused to hand over the basilica of Mediolanum to the Arians.

The preaching of Saint Ambrose in defense of Orthodoxy was deeply influential. Another noted father of the Western Church, Blessed Augustine (Comm. 15 June), gave witness to this, having in the year 387 accepted holy Baptism by the grace of the preaching of the bishop of Mediolanum.

Saint Ambrose also actively participated in civil matters. Thus, the emperor Gracian (375-383), having received from him the "Exposition of the Orthodox Faith" (De Fide), removed -- by decree of the saint -- the altar of Victory from the halls of the Senate at Rome, on which oaths were wont to be taken. Displaying a pastoral boldness, Saint Ambrose placed a severe penance on the emperor Theodosius I (379-395) for a massacre of innocent inhabitants of the city of Soluneia [Thessalonika]. For him there was no difference between emperor and common person: having then released Theodosius from the penance, the saint would not permit the emperor to commune at the altar, but compelled him to stand together with all the flock.

Fame about Bishop Ambrose and his actions attracted to him many followers from other lands. From faraway Persia came to him students of sagacity, wanting to discern the Truth. Fritigelda, queen of the military Germanic tribe of the Markomanni, which often had attacked Mediolanum, asked the saint to instruct her in the Christian faith. The saint in his letter to her persuasively stated the dogmas of the Church. And having become a believer, the queen converted her own husband to Christianity and persuaded him to seal a treaty of peace with the Roman empire.

The saint combined strictness with an uncommon kindliness. Granted a gift of wonderworking, he healed many from sickness. One time at Florence, staying at the house of Decentus, he resurrected a dead boy.

The repose of Saint Ambrose, who expired to God on the night of Holy Pascha, was accompanied by many miracles -- and he even appeared in a vision to the children being baptized this night. The saint was buried in the Ambrosian basilica in Mediolanum, beneath the altar, between the Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius.

A zealous preacher and valiant defender of the Christian faith, Saint Ambrose received particular renown as a Church writer. In dogmatic compositions he set forth the Orthodox teaching about the Holy Trinity, the Sacraments and Repentance: "Five Books about the Faith" (De Fide); "Explication of the Symbol of the Faith" ; "About the Incarnation" ; "Three Books about the Holy Spirit" ; "About the Sacraments" ; "Two Books about Repentance". In writings about Christian morality, he explained the excellence of Christian moral teaching compared to pagan moral teaching. A well-known work of Saint Ambrose, "About the Duties of Clergy-Servers" evidences a deep awareness by him of pastoral duty; in it is contained not only the command for proper knowledge of Church-services, but the proper knowledge also of moral precepts, for those that serve in the Church. Saint Ambrose was also a reformer of Church-singing. He introduced into the western Church antiphonal singing (along the Eastern or Syrian form), which became known as "Ambrosian Chant"; and he composed 12 hymns, which were used during his lifetime. His solemn thanksgiving hymn, -- "Thou, O God, we praise" (Te Deum), composed in the year 386, entered into the Divine-services of the Orthodox Church.

While still a pagan, St. Augustine, a great master of words himself, used to listen to St. Ambrose-not because he was interested in Christianity, but because he admired the expressive flow of words and eloquent sincerity of the speaker. As an example of St. Ambrose's flow of words, we might consider his description of drunkenness:

       "From this come also deluding visions, uncertain sight and tottering gait. Often they (the drunken) leap over shadows as if they were pitfalls. The ground sways beneath them; suddenly it seems to be raised and lowered as if it were turning. In terror they fall upon their faces and grasp the ground with their hands; or they imagine that they are being engulfed by mountains rushing upon them. There is rumbling in their ears like the crashing of a tossing sea and shores resounding from the waves. If they see dogs, they think them lions and flee. Some are convulsed with uncouth laughter; others weep with inconsolable grief; others perceive senseless terror. While awake they sleep, while asleep they quarrel. Life to them is a dream and their sleep is deep."

In 397 St. Ambrose became seriously ill. On Good Friday he lay for some hours with his arms outstretched on the bed in the form of a cross while he prayed silently until he died early in the morning of Holy Saturday, April 4, 397.

 St. Ambrose is one of the four great Latin Doctors, the others being St. Jerome, St. Augustine and St. Gregory the Great.   (OCA)

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Saint Ambrose (around 340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church

“Do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure… Make it your practice instead to store up heavenly treasure.”

"You who bury your gold in the ground (Mt 25:25), you are its servant and not its master. “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” In burying that gold, you have buried your heart. Rather, sell your gold and buy salvation; sell what is of stone and acquire the kingdom of God, sell your field and buy for yourself eternal life.

When I say that, I’m telling the truth, for I am basing my words on the very word of the one who is Truth: “If you seek perfection, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor. You will then have treasure in heaven.” (Mt 19:21) Don’t become sad when you hear these words, for fear that the same thing will be said to you as was told the rich young man: “Only with difficulty will a rich man enter into the kingdom of God.” (Mt 19:23) Even more, when you read that sentence, consider that death can tear you away from these goods, that a powerful person’s violence can take them away from you. In the end, you will only have tried for tiny goods instead of great wealth; these are only monetary treasures instead of being treasures of grace. By that very fact, they are corruptible rather than remaining forever."

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"Preserve, then, my sons, that friendship ye have begun with your brethren, for nothing in the world is more beautiful than that. It is indeed a comfort in this life to have one to whom thou canst open thy heart, with whom thou canst share confidences, and to whom thou canst entrust the secrets of thy heart. It is a comfort to have a trusty man by thy side, who will rejoice with thee in prosperity, sympathize in troubles, encourage in persecution. What good friends those Hebrew children were whom the flames of the fiery furnace did not separate from their love of each other!"
St. Ambrose of Milan.

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Saint Ambrose (around 340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
Treatise on the Gospel according to Saint Luke, 7, 85-86

Martha and Mary in the one body of Christ

The parable of the Good Samaritan is about mercy. But there is not just one way to be virtuous. The parable is followed by the example of Martha and of Mary. We see there that one is devoted in her activity, the other is religiously attentive to the word of God. According to what is written, if that attentiveness is in conformity with faith, it is even preferable to works: “Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it.” So let us also strive to possess what no one can take away from us. Let us listen in a way that is not distracted but attentive… Let us be like Mary who is animated by the desire for wisdom. That is a greater and more perfect work than the others… So don’t criticize, don’t judge as idle those whom you see desiring this wisdom…

However, Martha is not criticized for her good services, even if Mary has chosen the better part. For Jesus has many riches and gives many generous gifts… The apostles also did not think that it was best! to leave the word of God in order to serve at table (Acts 6:2). But both things are works of wisdom. Stephen, who was full of wisdom, was chosen for his part to be a servant. Thus, may the person who serves obey the one who teaches, and may the person who teaches encourage the one who serves. The body of the Church is one, even if the members are diverse; the one needs the other. “The eye cannot say to the hand: I do not need you; nor can the head say that to the feet.” (1 Co 12:14f.) The ear cannot say that it does not belong to the body. There are organs that are more important; but the others are nevertheless necessary.
 

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"Let us then not be ashamed to confess our sins unto the Lord. Shame indeed there is when each makes known his sins, but that shame, as it were, ploughs his land, removes the ever-recurring brambles, prunes the thorns, and gives life to the fruits which he believed were dead. Follow him who, by diligently plowing his field, sought for eternal fruit: `Being reviled we bless, being persecuted we endure, being defamed we entreat, we are made as the off scouring of the world.' If you plow after this fashion you will sow spiritual seed. Plough that you may get rid of sin and gain fruit. He ploughed so as to destroy in himself the last tendency to persecution. What more could Christ give to lead us on to the pursuit of perfection, than to convert and then give us for a teacher one who was a persecutor?"  St. Ambrose of Milan.

"Thou hast caused me, my brother, not to fear death, and I only would that my life might not die with thine! This Balaam wished for as the greatest good for himself, when, inspired by the spirit of prophecy, he said: `Let my soul die in the souls of the righteous, and let my seed be like the seed of them.' And in truth he wished this according to the spirit of prophecy, for as he saw the rising of Christ, so also he saw His triumph, he saw His death, but saw also in Him the everlasting resurrection of man, and therefore feared not to die as he was to rise again. Let not then my soul die in sin, nor admit sin into itself, but let it die in the soul of the righteous, that it may receive his righteousness. The, too, he who dies in Christ is made a partaker of His grace in the Font."
St. Ambrose of Milan.

"And not only is the operation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit everywhere one but also there is one and the same will, calling, and giving of commands, which one may see in the great and saving mystery of the Church. For as the Father called the Gentiles to the Church, saying: `I will call her My people which was not My people, and her beloved who was not beloved;' and elsewhere: `My house shall  be called a house of prayer for all nations,' so, too, the Lord Jesus said that Paul was chosen by Him to call forth and gather together the Church, as you find it said by the Lord Jesus to Ananias: `Go, for he is a chosen vessel unto Me to bear My name before all nations.'"   St. Ambrose of Milan.

"The foundation of justice therefore is faith, for the hearts of the just dwell on faith, and the just man that accuses himself builds justice on faith, for his justice becomes plain when he confesses the truth.  So the Lord says through Isaiah: `Behold, I lay a stone for a foundation in Zion.' This means Christ as the foundation of the Church. For Christ is the object of faith to all; but the Church is as it were the outward form of justice, she is the common right of all. For all in common she prays, for all in common she works, in the temptations of all, she is tried. So he who denies himself is indeed a just man, is indeed worthy of Christ. For this reason Paul has made Christ to be the foundation, so that we may build upon Him the works of justice, while faith is the foundation. In our works, then, if they are evil, there appears unrighteousness; if they are good, justice."

St. Ambrose of Milan.
 

Saint Ambrose (around 340 – 397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
Commentary on the Gospel according to St. Luke, IV, 57

“On the Sabbath … he taught in a spirit of authority”

The Lord began to heal on a Sabbath to show that the new creation begins at the point at which the first one stopped, to mark from the beginning that the Son of God is not under the Law, but superior to the Law, that he does not destroy the Law, but that he fulfills it (Mt 5:17). The world was not created by the Law, but by the Word, as we read: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.” (Ps 33:6) Thus, the Law is not destroyed but fulfilled, in order to renew the fallen human being. That is why the apostle Paul said: “Put aside your old self… and put on a new man who … is formed anew in the image of his Creator.” (Col 3:9)

It is right that he begin on the Sabbath so as to show that he is the Creator… who is continuing the work that he himself began in the past. Like the worker who is setting about repairing a house, he begins, not with the foundations, but with the roof… He first works on the point where he had ended previously. He begins with the least, so as to come to what is more important. Even human beings can deliver from demons – by the word of God, certainly – but commanding the dead to rise is in the power of God alone.

 

Commentary of the day : Saint Ambrose
“Abraham saw my day”
  According to Saint John 8:51-59.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death." (So) the Jews said to him, "Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM." So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
 

  

"Now let us say how Saint Luke encompassed the eighty blessings in the four. And, indeed, we know that there are four cardinal virtues: temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude. He who is poor in spirit is not greed; he who weeps is not proud, but is meek and tranquil; he who mourns is humble; he who is just does not deny what he knows is given jointly to all for us; he who is merciful confers of his own; he who bestows his own does not seek another's, nor does he contrive a trap for his neighbor. Then, the virtues are interwoven and interlinked, so that he who has one may be seen to have several, and a single virtue befits the Saints; but where virtue abounds, the reward too abounds."
 St. Ambrose of Milan.

 

Saint Ambrose (around 340 – 397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
On Abraham, I, 67-68

“Abraham saw my day”

“God called to Abraham: Take your son whom you love, Isaac whom you have treasured; go to the heights and you shall offer him up as a holocaust.” (cf. Gen 22:2) Isaac prefigures Christ who will suffer. He comes on a donkey… When the Lord came to suffer his passion for us, he detached the foal of a donkey and sat on it… Abraham said to his servants: “We will come back to you.” He prophesied that, which he did not know… Isaac carried the wood; Christ carried the gibbet of the cross. Abraham went with his son; the Father went with Christ. For he said: “You will leave me quite alone. Yet I can never be alone; the Father is with me.” (John 16:32) Isaac said to his father…: “Here is the wood, but where is the sheep for the holocaust?” He spoke prophetic words, but he did not know it. For the Lord was preparing a lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham also prophesied when he answered: “God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust, my son.”…

“The angel said: ‘Abraham, Abraham… Do not lay your hand on the boy, do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.’ (cf. Rom 8:32)… Abraham looked about and spied a ram hanging by its horns in the thicket.” Why a ram? He is the most valuable in the flock. Why hanging? To show you that it was no earthly victim... Our horn, our strength is Christ (Luke 1:69), who is superior to every human being, as we read: “Fairer in beauty are you than the sons of men.” (Ps 45:3) He alone was raised up from the earth and exalted, as he teaches us by his words: “I do not belong to this world; I belong to what is above.” (John 8:23) Abraham saw him in this sacrifice, he glimpsed his passion. That is why the Lord said of him: “Abraham saw my day and was glad.” He appeared to Abraham and revealed to him that his body would suffer the passion, by means of which he redeemed the world. He even indicated what kind of passion he would undergo by showing the ram hanging. The bush is the gibbet of the cross. And raised up on this wood, the flock’s incomparable guide drew everything to himself so as to make himself known to everyone.
 

 

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