Today, the Church remembers St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan.
By: Father Troy Beecham
Tags: Father Troy Beecham, Saint, Jesus, Christianity, Church

Today, the Church remembers St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan.

Ora pro nobis.

Aurelius Ambrosius, better known in English as Saint Ambrose (c. AD 340 — 4 April 397 AD), was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century AD. He was the Roman governor of Liguria and Emilia, headquartered in Milan, before being made bishop of Milan by popular acclamation in AD 374 AD. Ambrose was known for his deep beliefs and eloquence in preaching and teaching the orthodox Christian faith, and for his ability to be both resolute in confronting error and willing to live in Christian love with those who made themselves enemies. He famously is quoted as saying “No one heals themselves by wounding another”.

Traditionally, Ambrose is also credited with promoting “antiphonal chant”, a style of chanting in which one side of the choir responds alternately to the other, as well as with composing “Veni redemptor gentium”, an Advent hymn. His love of music and of Christian liturgical worship lead him to produce works of sublime beauty that remain part of the life of the Church today.

In the late 4th century there was a deep conflict in the diocese of Milan between the Nicene Church and Arians. In 374 the bishop of Milan, Auxentius, an Arian, died, and the Arians challenged the succession. Ambrose went to the church where the election was to take place, to prevent an uproar, which was probable in this crisis. His address was interrupted by a call, “Ambrose, bishop!”, which was taken up by the whole assembly.

Ambrose was known to be Nicene Christian in belief, but also acceptable to Arians due to the charity shown in theological matters in this regard. At first he energetically refused the office, for which he was in no way prepared: Ambrose was neither baptized nor formally trained in theology. Upon his appointment, Ambrose fled to a colleague’s home seeking to hide. Upon receiving a letter from the Emperor Gratian praising the appropriateness of Rome appointing individuals evidently worthy of holy positions, Ambrose’s host gave him up. Within a week, he was baptized, ordained and duly consecrated bishop of Milan.

As bishop, he immediately adopted an ascetic lifestyle, apportioned his money to the poor, donating all of his land, making only provision for his sister Marcellina (who had become a nun). This raised his popularity even further, giving him considerable political leverage over even the emperor Theodosius (who declared Christianity as the state religion), whom he once excommunicated for ordering a massacre and who publicly repented and was received again into Holy Communion.

He was an eloquent defender of the Christian Faith, vigorously refuting Arianism and paganism in public debate, even at the risk of his own life. He was sadly also an opponent of the Jewish community in Milan when the Western and Eastern halves of the empire were in a nearly constant state of warfare between rival claimants to the unified imperial throne, falsely seeing the Jewish community as foreigners who would not support the unity of the empire.

Ambrose displayed a kind of liturgical flexibility that kept in mind that liturgy was a tool to serve people in worshiping God, and ought not to become a rigid entity that is invariable from place to place. His advice to Augustine of Hippo on this point was to follow local liturgical custom. “When I am at Rome, I fast on a Saturday; when I am at Milan, I do not. Follow the custom of the church where you are.” Thus Ambrose refused to be drawn into a false conflict over which particular local church had the “right” liturgical form where there was no substantial problem. His advice has remained in the English language as the saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

He was also interested in the condition of contemporary Italian society. Ambrose considered the poor not a distinct group of outsiders, but a part of the united, solidary people. Giving to the poor was not to be considered an act of generosity towards the fringes of society but a repayment of resources that God had originally bestowed on everyone equally and that the rich had usurped.

Ambrose’s body may still be viewed in the church of Saint Ambrogio in Milan, where it has been continuously venerated.

O God, you gave your servant Ambrose grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching and faithfulness in ministering your Word, that your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.