You are not logged in as a Premium user; you are viewing the free version of this program. Premium users get access to full programs with limited ads and get a 10% discount in the store! Sign up for just one day for the low cost of $1.99. Click the button below.
Saint Ambrose was born into a notable Roman family around 340 in Trier, Arles or Lyon. His father, also named Ambroise, was prefect of Gallia, overseeing the regions that today include France, Britain, Spain, and parts of Africa. Raised in a Christian family, Ambrose’s youth was shaped by his family’s faith and status.
Peter Paul Rubens, ch. 1618
Scottish National Gallery
Ambrose’s sister, Marcellina, and brother, Satyrus, played important roles in his spiritual education. After his father’s death, the family moved to Rome, where Ambrose received an education that honed his skills in Greek and Roman literature.
Ambroise’s path to the episcopacy was unconventional. Trained in law, he became known as a talented orator and lawyer and was eventually appointed governor of Liguria and Emilia, with Milan as his base.
His life took a dramatic turn in 374 following the death of Arian Bp. Auxentius of Milan. During the election of a new bishop, Ambrose, then only a catechumen, was unexpectedly acclaimed by the people. Despite his initial reluctance, he accepted the episcopal office, seeing it as a divine vocation.
Bishop of Milan, defender of Orthodoxy
At this time, in the early Church, the heresy of Arianism was trying to tear the Church apart. Propagated by the Alexandrian priest Arius, Arianism posited that Jesus Christ, although divine, was not co-eternal with the Father, suggesting a time when the Son did not exist. As bishop, Ambrose found himself at the epicenter of the Arian controversy. Milan was a crucial imperial hub and its theological tendencies had far-reaching implications. Ambroise’s predecessor, Auxentius, was an Arian and his death left a community deeply divided.
His theological position was clear: Jesus Christ was fully divine, equal to the Father.
Ambrose firmly defended the Nicene Creed, which affirmed the co-eternity and consubstantiality of the Son with the Father. His theological position was clear: Jesus Christ was fully divine, equal to the Father, a position directly opposed to Arianism. Ambrosia’s eloquence and depth of theological understanding made him a formidable adversary of the Arians.
the entrance to his church,” Juan de Valdes Leal1673
Ambrose skillfully managed the complex relationship between the Roman Church and state. He used his position to influence key political figures and leveraged his popularity among the people to strengthen orthodox Christian beliefs. His confrontations with Empress Justina, an Arian sympathizer, were particularly striking. She demanded that some churches in Milan be handed over to the Arians, a move Ambrose fiercely opposed.
Ambrose’s ability to influence public opinion was crucial in his fight against Arianism. He was deeply connected to his congregation and the community at large, often using his sermons to articulate orthodox positions and rally the people against Arian influences. His charismatic leadership and persuasive speech played an important role in making Milan a bastion of Nicene Christianity.
Ambrose’s interactions with Emperor Theodosius I were significant in the broader context of the Arian controversy. Theodosius, influenced by Ambrose, was a strong supporter of the Nicene Creed, so his edicts and policies, often guided by Ambrose’s advice, helped curb the spread of Arianism within the empire.
Friendship with Saint Augustine
The friendship between Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine is a fascinating and crucial chapter in the history of the Christian Church, marked by intellectual exchange, spiritual guidance and profound influence. Augustine, who would later become one of the most influential theologians in Christian history, was deeply influenced by Ambrose, not only in his conversion to Christianity, but also in his theological development.
Saint of the day: Saint Ambrose
Augustine first met Ambrose in Milan, where Augustine had traveled in 384 AD. At this time, Augustine was a professor of rhetoric and adhered to Manichaeism, another early Christian heresy that Ambrose opposed. Augustine was first attracted to Ambrose not for his Christian teachings but for his renowned eloquence and rhetorical skills. However, as Augustine attended Ambrose’s sermons, he found himself increasingly drawn to the Christian faith.
Ambrose’s influence on Augustine’s theological development was profound.
Ambrose’s interpretation of Scripture, particularly his allegorical approach, resolved many of Augustine’s intellectual doubts about Christianity. Augustine was struck by Ambrose’s ability to reconcile the philosophical and theological questions that had long troubled him. This intellectual respect gradually led to a spiritual awakening.
Museum of Fine Arts of Bordeaux
Augustine admired Ambrose not only for his intellectual prowess but also for his personal virtues, notably his ascetic lifestyle and his commitment to his episcopal duties. Ambrose’s advice was instrumental in Augustine’s final decision to embrace Christianity, culminating in Ambrose’s baptism of Augustine at the Easter Vigil in 387 AD.
Ambrose’s influence on Augustine’s theological development was profound. Augustine’s later works, which significantly shaped Christian doctrine, bear traces of Ambrose’s teachings, illuminating his later writings on original sin and grace.
Ambrose’s allegorical interpretation of Scripture also left a lasting impact on Augustine, who took a similar approach in his own exegetical works. This method helped Augustine reconcile the philosophical ideas of Neoplatonism, which he had studied extensively, with Christian doctrine.
Beyond their intellectual and spiritual ties, there is a real personal bond between the two men. Augustine held Ambrose in high esteem, not only as a bishop and teacher, but also as a personal model. In his ConfessionsAugustine speaks of Ambrose with deep respect and affection, emphasizing the bishop’s role in his conversion and spiritual growth.
Theological contributions and pastoral work
Ambrose was a prolific writer, with his works encompassing theology, morality, and scriptural exegesis. His treatises on virginity, the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and Christian ethics, especially De Officiis Ministrorum, have been very influential. His eloquent style combined Roman rhetorical skills with Christian doctrine, which had a significant impact on the Church. Known for his ascetic lifestyle, Ambrose maintained an open-door policy for his flock and was involved in numerous charitable works.
His life remains a pivotal chapter in the history of the Christian Church.
Ambrose’s interactions with the Roman emperors, particularly Theodosius, were marked by a mixture of respect and firmness. He is notably remembered for insisting on the public penance of Emperor Theodosius after the massacre at Thessalonica, thereby demonstrating his moral authority and commitment to Christian ethics.
Legacy and death
Saint Ambrose died on April 4, 397. His legacy lives on through his writings, his contributions to church music, and his influence on early Christian theology. His relics, preserved in the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, continue to be venerated and his life remains a pivotal chapter in the history of the Christian Church.
Do you have a current tip? Submit news to our tip line.
We count on You to support our news reporting. Please make a donation Today.
