December 7

Saint Ambrose

Memorial · Remembered by Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans

Governor turned bishop who baptised Augustine and stood up to emperors

Ambrose was born around 339 in Trier, now in Germany, into a high-ranking Roman family. Trained in law, he became governor of the region around Milan. In 374, when the city's bishop died, the people quarrelled fiercely over a successor. Ambrose came to keep order—and the crowd demanded him as bishop, though he was not yet baptised. Within days he was baptised and ordained, and he gave much of his wealth to the poor.

He studied Scripture closely and preached constantly. In 386, when the imperial court demanded a church for the Arians, he stayed inside it with his people, who passed the tense hours singing hymns he had written. In 390 he required Emperor Theodosius to do public penance for a massacre at Thessalonica.

Augustine, whom he baptised in 387, later recalled his surprise at finding Ambrose reading silently, absorbed in a book. Ambrose died in 397. Christians still sing his hymns and remember a bishop who told emperors they too answered to God.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16 · BSB

A prayer

Faithful God, you called Ambrose from governing a province to shepherding your people, and gave him courage to speak your truth to the powerful and songs to strengthen the weak. Give us hearts that love your Word, voices that praise you, and the courage to do what is right, whatever it costs. Amen.