Saint Ambrose of Milan
Saint Ambrose of Milan (born c. 340 AD in Trier, Roman Empire; died April 4, 397 AD in Milan, Roman Empire) was the Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397 AD, one of the four original Doctors of the Church, and one of the most influential Christian bishops of the 4th century. He was elected bishop by popular acclamation while still a catechumen, opposed Arianism, influenced the conversion of Saint Augustine of Hippo, composed hymns that shaped the Western liturgical tradition, and confronted Emperor Theodosius over the Thessalonica massacre. His feast day is December 7.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Ambrose of Milan
| Saint Ambrose of Milan | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | December 07 |
| Profession | Roman imperial governor of Liguria and Emilia (before election); Bishop of Milan (374–397 AD); Doctor of the Church; theologian; hymn writer; opponent of Arianism; preacher; teacher of Augustine of Hippo |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Roman Rite; Ambrosian Rite (bears his name); Doctor of the Church (one of the original four Latin Doctors: Jerome, Augustine, Gregory, Ambrose); 4th-century Nicene orthodoxy; Milan |
| Patronage | Milan; beekeepers (a swarm of bees rested on him as an infant — a portent of his eloquence); bishops; students; learning; against over-indulgence; France (secondary); Lombardy; the Ambrosian Rite |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; a beehive or bees (his eloquence); a scourge or whip (the penance of Theodosius); a pen or book (his writings); bees (childhood portent); sometimes shown with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory as the four Latin Doctors; the ox goad (Doctor of the Church symbol) |
| Birthplace | Augusta Treverorum (Trier), Roman Empire (modern Germany) |
| Death Place | Milan, Roman Empire (modern Italy) |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died April 4, 397 AD, in Milan; he had been ill for some time; he died on Good Friday and was buried in the Ambrosian Basilica (now the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio) in Milan, where his body still rests; he was approximately 57 years old; he had been bishop for 23 years; his body was found incorrupt when translated and is still venerated in the basilica |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio, Milan — his body in the crypt (still venerated); one of the great basilicas of Italy; December 7 feast; millions of visitors annually |
| Liturgical Class | Memorial (Roman Rite); December 7; Doctor of the Church; one of the four original Latin Doctors |
| Historic Class | Double of the Second Class (December 7) in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Ambrose was born c. 340 AD in Trier (Augusta Treverorum), the son of the Praetorian Prefect of Gaul. After his father's death the family moved to Rome, where Ambrose was educated in law and rhetoric. He became a distinguished administrator and was appointed governor of Liguria and Emilia, based in Milan.
In 374 AD, on the death of the Arian Bishop Auxentius, the people of Milan spontaneously acclaimed Ambrose as bishop. He was still a catechumen. He tried to refuse and flee but was ultimately compelled to accept. He was baptized, ordained, and consecrated within eight days — one of the most remarkable episcopal elections in Church history.
As bishop he vigorously opposed Arianism, preached allegorically, composed Latin hymns (the Ambrosian hymn tradition), and organized the Milanese liturgy (the Ambrosian Rite, still used today). His preaching moved Augustine of Hippo to conversion; he baptized Augustine at Easter 387 AD.
In 390 AD he barred Emperor Theodosius from the church until the emperor performed public penance for the Thessalonica massacre — establishing the principle that even emperors are subject to the Church's moral authority.
He died April 4, 397 AD, and is buried in the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio. He was proclaimed one of the four original Latin Doctors of the Church by Pope Boniface VIII in 1295.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Augusta Treverorum (Trier), Roman Empire (modern Germany)
Death location: Milan, Roman Empire (modern Italy)
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Known shrines
- Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio, Milan — his body in the crypt; one of Italy's greatest basilicas.
Feast day
December 7
Veneration
Saint Ambrose of Milan was one of the four original Latin Doctors of the Church. He opposed Arianism, baptized Augustine of Hippo, imposed public penance on Emperor Theodosius, and shaped the Milanese liturgy (the Ambrosian Rite, still in use). His body rests in the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio, Milan. Feast December 7.
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