Ambrose

{{POV|date=December 2007}}
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox Saint
|name= Saint Ambrose
|birth_date= between [[AD]] [[337]] and [[340]]
|death_date=[[4 April]] [[AD]] [[397]]
|feast_day= [[December 7]]<ref name="Attwater">Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. ''The Penguin Dictionary of Saints''. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.</ref>
|venerated_in= [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]]<br>[[Eastern Orthodox Church]]<br>[[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]]
|image= AmbroseOfMilan.jpg
|imagesize=220px
|caption= Saint Ambrose, mosaic in the [[basilica of Sant'Ambrogio]], [[Milan]]
|birth_place= [[Trier]], southern [[Gaul]]
|death_place= [[Milan]], [[Italy]]
|titles=
|beatified_date=
|beatified_place=
|beatified_by=
|canonized_date=
|canonized_place=
|canonized_by=
|attributes=Beehive, child, whip, bones|patronage=bee keepers; bees; candle makers; domestic animals; French Commissariat; learning; Milan, Italy; students; wax refiners
|major_shrine= Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, where is his body
|suppressed_date=
|issues=
}}

Saint '''Ambrose'''<ref>Known in [[Latin]] and [[Low Franconian]] as ''Ambrosius'', in [[Italian language|Italian]] as ''Ambrogio'' and in [[Lombard language|Lombard]] as ''Ambroeus''.</ref> (c. 338 – [[4 April]] [[397]]), was a [[Franks|Frankish]] [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan|bishop of Milan]] who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the fourth century. He is counted as one of the four original [[doctors of the Church]].

==Life==
===Worldly career===
[[Image:AmbroseStatue.png|thumb|left|160px|Statue of St. Ambrose.]]

Ambrose was born into a Frankish Christian family between about [[337]] and [[340]] and was raised in [[Trier]]. He was the son of a praetorian prefect of [[Gallia Narbonensis]]<ref name="Attwater"/>; his mother was a woman of intellect and piety. There is a legend that as an infant, a swarm of [[bee]]s settled on his face while he lay in his cradle, leaving behind a drop of [[honey]]. His father considered this a [[Christian symbolism|sign]] of his future eloquence and honeyed-tongue. For this reason, bees and [[beehive (beekeeping)|beehives]] often appear in the [[Saint symbology|saint's symbology]].

After the early death of his father, Ambrose followed his father's career. He was educated in Rome, studying [[literature]], [[law]], and [[rhetoric]]. [[Praetor]] [[Anicius Probus]] first gave him a place in the council and then in about [[372]] made him [[consular prefect]] of [[Liguria]] and [[Emilia]], with headquarters at [[Milan]], which was then beside Rome the second capital in Italy<ref name="Attwater"/>. Ambrose made an excellent administrator in this important position and soon became very popular.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}

===Bishop of Milan===
[[Image:Francisco de Zurbarán 032.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''St. Ambrose'', by [[Francisco de Zurbarán]]]]
There was a deep conflict in the [[diocese of Milan]] as well as the rest of the Church between the Trinitarians and the [[Arianism|Arians]]. In [[374]], [[Auxentius]], bishop of Milan, died, and the Arians challenged the [[succession]]. The prefect went personally to the basilica where the election should take place, to prevent an uproar which was probable in this crisis. His address was interrupted by a call "Ambrose for bishop!" which was taken up by others upon which he was univocally elected bishop.

Ambrose was known to be personally Trinitarian, 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.<ref name="Attwater"/> Upon his appointment, St. Ambrose fled to a colleague's home to seek hiding. Upon receiving a letter from the Emperor praising the appropriateness of Rome appointing individuals evidently worthy of holy positions, St. Ambrose's host gave Ambrose up. Within a week, Ambrose was baptized, ordained and duly installed as 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 [[Saint Marcellina|Marcellina]], and committed the care of his family to his brother. Saint Ambrose also wrote a treatise by the name of "The Goodness Of Death".

===Ambrose and Arians===

According to legend, Ambrose immediately and forcefully stopped Arianism in Milan. He moved more realistically and deliberately.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} At that time [[Arianism]] dominated especially among the higher levels of society.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} In his pursuit of the study of theology with [[Simplician]], a [[presbyter]] of Rome he was to excel. Using his excellent knowledge of Greek, which was then rare in the West, to his advantage, he studied the Hebrew Bible and Greek authors like [[Philo]], [[Origenes]], [[Athanasius]] and [[Basil of Caesarea]], with whom he was also exchanging letters. [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf208.ix.cxcviii.html (See letter of Basil to Ambrose)] He applied this knowledge as preacher, concentrating especially on exegesis of the Old Testament, and his rhetorical abilities impressed Augustine of Hippo, who hitherto had thought poorly of Christian preachers.

In the confrontation with [[Arianism|Arian]]s, Ambrose sought to theologically refute their propositions, considered as heretical. The Arians appealled to many high level leaders and clergy in both the Western and Eastern empires. Although the western Emperor [[Gratianus|Gratian]] held [[orthodox]] belief in the [[Nicene]] creed, the younger [[Valentinian II|Valentinian]], who became his colleague in the empire, adhered to the [[Arian]] creed. Ambrose did not sway the young prince's position. In the East, Emperor [[Theodosius I]] likewise professed the [[Nicene]] creed; but there were many adherents of [[Arianism]] throughout his dominions, especially among the higher clergy.

In this contested state of religious opinion, two leaders of the Arians, bishops Palladius of [[Ratiaria]] and [[Secundianus of Singidunum]], confident of numbers, prevailed upon [[Gratian]] to call a general council from all parts of the empire. This request appeared so equitable that he complied without hesitation. However, Ambrose feared the consequences and prevailed upon the emperor to have the matter determined by a council of the Western bishops. Accordingly, a [[synod]] composed of thirty-two bishops was held at [[Aquileia]] in the year [[381]]. Ambrose was elected president and Palladius, being called upon to defend his opinions, declined. A vote was then taken, when Palladius and his associate Secundianus were deposed from the episcopal office.

Nevertheless, the increasing strength of the Arians proved a formidable task for Ambrose. In [[386]] the emperor and his mother [[Justina (empress)|Justina]], along with a considerable number of [[clergy]] and [[laity]], especially military, professed the Arian faith. They attempted to turn over two churches in [[Milan]], one in the city, the other in the suburbs, to the Arians. Ambrose refused and was required to answer for his conduct before the council.<ref name="Attwater"/> He went, his eloquence in defense of the Church reportedly overawed the ministers of Emperor Valentinian, so he was permitted to retire without making the surrender of the churches. The day following, when he was performing divine service in the basilica, the prefect of the city came to persuade him to give up at least the Portian church in the suburbs. As he still continued obstinate, the court proceeded to violent measures {{Fact|date=May 2007}}: the officers of the household were commanded to prepare the [[Basilica]] and the Portian churches to celebrate divine service upon the arrival of the emperor and his mother at the ensuing festival of [[Easter]].

In spite of Imperial opposition, Bishop Ambrose declared:
{{cquote|If you demand my person, I am ready to submit: carry me to [[prison]] or to [[death]], I will not resist; but I will never betray the church of [[Jesus|Christ]]. I will not call upon the people to succour me; I will die at the foot of the [[altar]] rather than desert it. The tumult of the people I will not encourage: but [[God]] alone can appease it.}}

===Ambrose and emperors===
[[Image:Anthonis van Dyck 005.jpg|thumb|300px|''Saint Ambrose and emperor Theodosius'' by Van Dyck.]]

The imperial court was displeased with the religious principles of Ambrose, however his aid was soon solicited by the Emperor. When [[Magnus Maximus]] usurped the supreme power in [[Gaul]], and was meditating a descent upon Italy, Valentinian sent Ambrose to dissuade him from the undertaking, and the embassy was successful.

On a second attempt of the same kind Ambrose was again employed; and although he was unsuccessful, it cannot be doubted that, if his advice had been followed, the schemes of the usurper would have proved abortive; but the enemy was permitted to enter [[Italy]]; and [[Milan]] was taken. Justina and her son fled; but Ambrose remained at his post, and did good service to many of the sufferers by causing the plate of the church to be melted for their relief.

Ambrose was equally zealous in combating the attempt made by the upholders of the old state religion to resist the enactments of Christian emperors. The pagan party was led by [[Quintus Aurelius Symmachus]], consul in [[391]], who presented to [[Valentinian II]] a forcible but unsuccessful petition praying for the restoration of the [[Altar of Victory]] to its ancient station in the hall of the [[Roman Senate]], the proper support of seven [[Vestal Virgin]]s, and the regular observance of the other pagan ceremonies.

To this petition Ambrose replied in a letter to Valentinian, arguing that the devoted worshipers of [[idolatry|idols]] had often been forsaken by their [[list of deities|deities]]; that the native valour of the Roman soldiers had gained their victories, and not the pretended influence of pagan [[priest]]s; that these idolatrous worshipers requested for themselves what they refused to Christians; that voluntary was more honourable than constrained [[virginity]]; that as the Christian ministers declined to receive temporal emoluments, they should also be denied to pagan priests; that it was absurd to suppose that [[God]] would inflict a famine upon the empire for neglecting to support a religious system contrary to His will as revealed in the [[Holy Scripture]]s; that the whole process of nature encouraged innovations, and that all nations had permitted them even in religion; that heathen sacrifices were offensive to Christians; and that it was the duty of a Christian prince to suppress pagan ceremonies. In the epistles of Symmachus and of Ambrose both the petition and the reply are preserved.

To support the logic of his argument, Ambrose halted the celebration of the [[Eucharist]], essentially holding the Christian community hostage, until Theodosius agreed to abort the investigation without requiring reparations to be made by the bishop.

[[Theodosius I]], the emperor of the East, espoused the cause of Justina, and regained the kingdom. Theodosius was threatened with excommunication by Ambrose for the [[Massacre of Thessaloniki|massacre]] of 7,000 persons at [[Thessalonika|Thessalonica]] in [[390]], after the murder of the Roman governor there by rioters.<ref name="Attwater"/> Ambrose told Theodosius to imitate [[David (biblical king)|David]] in his repentance as he had imitated him in guilt - Ambrose readmitted the emperor to the Eucharist only after several months of penance . This incident shows the strong position of a bishop in the Western part of the empire, even when facing a strong emperor - the controversy of [[John Chrysostom]] with a much weaker emperor a few years later in Constantinople led to a crushing defeat of the bishop.

Ambrose's influence upon Theodosius is credited with eliciting the enactment of the "Theodosian decrees" of [[391]] (see entry [[Theodosius I]]).

In [[392]], after the death of [[Valentinian II]] and the acclamation of [[Eugenius]], Ambrose supplicated the emperor for the pardon of those who had supported Eugenius after Theodosius was eventually victorious. Soon after acquiring the undisputed possession of the [[Roman empire]], Theodosius died at Milan in [[395]], and two years later ([[April 4]], [[397]]) Ambrose also died. He was succeeded as bishop of Milan by [[Simplician]]. Ambrose's body may still be viewed in the church of S. Ambrogio in Milan, where it has been continuously venerated — along with the bodies identified in his time as being those of [[Sts. Gervase and Protase]] — and is one of the oldest extant bodies of historical personages known outside [[Egypt]].

===Character===
Many circumstances in the history of Ambrose are characteristic of the general spirit of the times. The chief causes of his victory over his opponents were his great popularity and the reverence paid to the episcopal character at that period. But it must also be noted that he used several indirect means to obtain and support his authority with the people.

He was liberal to the [[poverty|poor]]; it was his custom to comment severely in his preaching on the public characters of his times; and he introduced popular reforms in the order and manner of public worship. It is alleged, too, that at a time when the influence of Ambrose required vigorous support, he was admonished in a dream to search for, and found under the pavement of the church, the remains of two [[martyr]]s, [[Gervasius]] and [[Protasius]]. The bodies, though they would have to have been hundreds of years old, looked as if they had just died. The applause of the people was mingled with the derision of the court party.

==Theology==

Ambrose ranks with [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]], [[Jerome]], and [[Gregory the Great]], as one of the [[Latin]] [[Doctor of the Church|Doctors of the Church]]. Theologians compare him with [[Hilary]], who they claim fell short of Ambrose's administrative excellence but demonstrated greater [[theology|theological]] ability. He succeeded as a theologian despite his juridical training and his comparatively late handling of [[Biblical]] and [[doctrinal]] subjects. His spiritual successor, [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]], whose conversion was helped by Ambrose's [[sermon]]s, owes more to him than to any writer except [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]]{{Fact|date=June 2007}}.

Ambrose was a [[Christian universalism|Christian universalist]]; he believed that all people would eventually achieve salvation.<ref name="hanson">J.W. Hanson. ''Universalism: The Prevailing Doctrine Of The Christian Church During Its First Five Hundred Years''. "[http://hellbusters.8m.com/upd18.html Chapter 18 Additional Authorities]". Boston and Chicago Universalist Publishing House. 1899.</ref> He argued:

<blockquote>
Our Savior has appointed two kinds of resurrection in the Apocalypse. 'Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection,' for such come to grace without the judgment. As for those who do not come to the first, but are reserved unto the second resurrection, these shall be disciplined until their appointed times, between the first and the second resurrection.<ref>"[http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/churchfathersquotes.htm The Church Fathers on Universalism]". at ''Tentmaker.org''. Accessed Dec. 5, 2007.</ref></blockquote>

It has been noted that Ambrose's theology was significantly influenced by that of [[Origen]] and [[Didymus the Blind]], two other early Christian universalists.<ref name="hanson"/>

Ambrose's intense episcopal consciousness furthered the growing [[doctrine]] of the Church and its [[sacerdotal]] ministry, while the prevalent [[asceticism]] of the day, continuing the [[Stoicism|Stoic]] and [[Cicero]]nian training of his youth, enabled him to promulgate a lofty standard of Christian [[ethics]]. Thus we have the ''De officiis ministrorum'', ''De viduis'', ''De virginitate'' and ''De paenitentia''.

==Writings==
[[Image:Saint Ambrose in His Study 1.jpg|thumb|250px|''Saint Ambrose in His Study'', ca. 1500. Spanish, Palencia. Wood with traces of polychromy. [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], [[New York City]].]]
*[http://www.monachos.net/library/Patristics_Master_List%2C_Page_1#A_-_Documents_in_the_Monachos_Library Writings of St. Ambrose including "On beliefs in Resurrection" and "On the Holy Spirit"]
In matters of [[exegesis]] he is, like Hilary, an [[Alexandrian]]. In [[dogma]] he follows [[Basil of Caesarea]] and other Greek authors, but nevertheless gives a distinctly Western cast to the speculations of which he treats. This is particularly manifest in the weightier emphasis which he lays upon human [[sin]] and [[divine grace]], and in the place which he assigns to [[faith]] in the individual Christian life.
* ''De fide ad Gratianum Augustum'' (On Faith, to [[Gratian|Gratian Augustus]])
* ''De officiis'' (On the Offices of Ministers, an important ecclesiastical handbook)
* ''De Spiritu Sancto'' (On the Holy Ghost)
* ''De incarnationis Dominicae sacramento'' (On the Sacrament of the Incarnation of the Lord)
* ''De mysteriis'' (On the Mysteries)
* ''Expositio evangelii secundum Lucam'' (Commentary on the Gospel according to Luke)
* Ethical works: ''De bono mortis'' (Death as a Good); ''De fuga saeculi'' (Flight From the World); ''De institutione virginis et sanctae Mariae virginitate perpetua ad Eusebium'' (On the Birth of the Virgin and the Perpetual Virginity of Mary); ''De Nabuthae'' (On Naboth); ''De paenitentia'' (On Repentance); ''De paradiso'' (On Paradise); ''De sacramentis'' (On the Sacraments); ''De viduis'' (On Widows); ''De virginibus'' (On Virgins); ''De virginitate'' (On Virginity); ''Exhortatio virginitatis'' (Exhortation to Virginity); ''De sacramento regenerationis sive de philosophia'' (On the Sacrament of Rebirth, or, On Philosophy [fragments])
* Homiletic commentaries on the [[Old Testament]]: the ''[[Hexaemeron]]'' (Six Days of Creation); ''De Helia et ieiunio'' (On Elijah and Fasting); ''De Iacob et vita beata'' (On Jacob and the Happy Life); ''De [[Abraham]]''; ''De Cain et Abel''; ''De Ioseph'' (Joseph); ''De Isaac vel anima'' (On Isaac, or The Soul); ''De Noe'' (Noah); ''De interpellatione Iob et David'' (On the Prayer of Job and David); ''De patriarchis'' (On the Patriarchs); ''De Tobia'' (Tobit); ''Explanatio psalmorum'' (Explanation of the [[Psalms]]); ''Explanatio symboli'' (Commentary on the Symbol).
* ''De obitu Theodosii''; ''De obitu Valentiniani''; ''De excessu fratris Satyri'' (funeral orations)
* 91 letters
* A collection of hymns
* Fragments of sermons
* ''[[Ambrosiaster]]'' or the "pseudo-Ambrose" is a brief commentary on Paul's ''Epistles'', which was long attributed to Ambrose.

==Church music==
{{main|Ambrosian Hymnography}}

Ambrose is traditionally credited but not actually known to have composed any of the repertory of [[Ambrosian chant]] also known simply as "[[chant]], a method of chanting, or one side of the choir alternately responding to the other, much as the later pope St. [[Gregory I the Great]] is not known to have composed any [[Gregorian chant]], the [[plainsong]] or "[[Romish chant]]. However, Ambrosian chant was named in his honor due to his contributions to the music of the Church; he is credited with introducing [[hymnody]] from the Eastern Church into the West.

Catching the impulse from [[Hilary of Arles|Hilary]] and confirmed in it by the success of Arian [[psalmody]], Ambrose composed several original [[hymn]]s as well, four of which still survive, along with music which may not have changed too much from the original melodies. Each of these hymns has eight four-line [[stanza]]s and is written in strict iambic tetrameter.
Marked by dignified simplicity, they served as a fruitful model for later times.
*''Deus Creator Omnium''
*''Aeterne rerum conditor''
*''Jam surgit hora tertia''
*''Jam Christus astra ascendante"
*''Veni redemptor gentium'' (a [[Christmas]] hymn)
*[http://www.geocities.com/hashanayobel/christwrit/hymns.htm Text of some Ambrosian Hymns]

In his writings, Ambrose refers only to the performance of [[antiphon]]al [[psalms]], in which solo singing of psalm verses alternated with a congregational refrain called an ''antiphon''.

St. Ambrose was also traditionally credited with composing the hymn ''[[Te Deum]]'', which he is said to have composed when he baptised [[Augustine of Hippo|Saint Augustine]], his celebrated convert.

==Ambrose and reading==
Ambrose is the subject of a curious anecdote in [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine's]] ''Confessions'' which bears on the history of reading:
{{cquote|When [Ambrose] read, his eyes scanned the page and his heart sought out the meaning, but his voice was silent and his tongue was still. Anyone could approach him freely and guests were not commonly announced, so that often, when we came to visit him, we found him reading like this in silence, for he never read aloud.}}

The extraordinary aspect of this passage, of course, is that Augustine felt it noteworthy that Ambrose could read silently, implying that hardly anyone else could at the time.

Others opine that what was well written was intended to be read aloud in the ancient world, and this was customary. Ambrose surprised Augustine not by his ability to read silently, but by his habit of reading silently.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

==See also==
*[[Ambrosians]]

*[[Ambrosian hymnography]]
*[[Ambrosian Liturgy and Rite]].
*[[Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio|St. Ambrose Basilica]], [[Milan]]
{{portalpar|Saints|Gloriole.svg}}
*[[St. Ambrose University]], [[Davenport, Iowa]]
*[[Ambrose University College]]

==Notes==
<references/>
==External links==
{{commons|Category:Saint Ambrose|Ambrose}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.monachos.net/library/Patristics_Master_List%2C_Page_1#A_-_Documents_in_the_Monachos_Library Writings of St. Ambrose]
*[http://www.catholiclibrary.com/content/view/8575/5822/ Official Catholic Encyclopedia Live Article on St. Ambrose]
*[http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/fathers/ambrose_letters_00_intro.htm Early Christian writings: Letters of St. Ambrose of Milan]
*[http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-10/TOC.htm Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Works of Ambrose of Milan]
*[http://www.fh-augsburg.de/~harsch/amb_hy00.html Hymni Ambrosii (latin)]
*[http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/ambrose.php EarlyChurch.org.uk] Extensive bibliography
*[http://www.intratext.com/Catalogo/Autori/AUT12.HTM Ambrose's works]: text, concordances and frequency list
*[http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/AuthorBioPage.php?recordID=0011 Ambrose] at ''The Online Library of Liberty''
*[http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/20_40_0339-0397-_Ambrosius_Mediolanensis,_Sanctus.html Opera Omnia]
*[http://OrderofSaintAmbrose.googlepages.com The Most Honorable Order of Saint Ambrose] An order of chivalry that claims the Saint as patron.

==References==
*Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. ''The Penguin Dictionary of Saints''. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01383c.htm Saint Ambrose] at the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]]
*[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta07.htm Patron Saints: Ambrose]
*{{1911}}

{{Churchdoctor}}

[[Category:4th century philosophers]]
[[Category:Church Fathers]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman saints]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman Christianity]]
[[Category:Late Antiquity]]
[[Category:Doctors of the Church]]
[[Category:Christian theologians]]
[[Category:Christian universalists]]
[[Category:Christian hymnwriters]]
[[Category:Latin letter writers]]
[[Category:People from Trier]]
[[Category:4th century births]]
[[Category:397 deaths]]
[[Category:Frankish saints]]
[[Category:Franks]]
[[Category:Frankish bishops]]
[[Category:Frankish people]]

[[br:Ambroaz a vMilano]]
[[ca:Sant Ambròs]]
[[cs:Ambrosius]]
[[da:Skt. Ambrosius]]
[[de:Ambrosius von Mailand]]
[[el:Αμβρόσιος Μεδιολάνων]]
[[es:Ambrosio]]
[[fr:Ambroise de Milan]]
[[fy:Ambrosius]]
[[gl:Ambrosio de Milán]]
[[ko:암브로시우스]]
[[hr:Sveti Ambrozije]]
[[id:Ambrosius]]
[[it:Sant'Ambrogio da Milano]]
[[he:אמברוזיוס]]
[[la:Ambrosius]]
[[lmo:Sant'Ambroeus]]
[[hu:Szent Ambrus]]
[[ml:അംബ്രോസ്]]
[[nl:Ambrosius van Milaan]]
[[ja:アンブロジウス]]
[[no:Ambrosius av Milano]]
[[pl:Święty Ambroży]]
[[pt:Ambrósio de Milão]]
[[ro:Ambroziu de Milano]]
[[ru:Амвросий Медиоланский]]
[[sq:Shën Ambrozi]]
[[sk:Ambrosius Milánsky]]
[[fi:Ambrosius]]
[[sv:Ambrosius av Milano]]
[[uk:Амвросій Медіоланський]]
[[vec:Sant'Anbrosio]]
[[zh:安波羅修]]