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For other uses, see Ambrose (disambiguation).
Saint Ambrose
Saint Ambrose, mosaic in the basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan
Born between AD 337 and 340,  Trier, southern Gaul
Died 4 April AD 397,  Milan, Italy
Venerated in Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Lutheran Church
Major shrine Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, where is his body
Feast December 7[1]
Attributes Beehive, child, whip, bones
Patronage bee keepers; bees; candle makers; domestic animals; French Commissariat; learning; Milan, Italy; students; wax refiners
Saints Portal

Saint Ambrose[2] (c. See also Sant'Ambrogio Florence The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio ( St Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Events By Place Roman Empire September 9 — Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans succeed their Events By Place Roman Empire Constantinople, capital of Emperor Constantius II, becomes the largest city of the world taking Trier (Trèves Luxembourgish: Tréier; Augusta Treverorum is a City in Germany on the banks of the Moselle River. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Events By Place Asia The Xiongnu occupy the Gansu area in China. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’ also used as a desk like the French bureau) was originally a container usually made of precious materials used The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings Each Saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members 338 – 4 April 397) was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the fourth century. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Events By Place Asia The Xiongnu occupy the Gansu area in China. He is counted as one of the four original doctors of the Church. Doctor of the Church ( Latin doctor, teacher from Latin docere, to teach is a title given by a variety of Christian Churches to individuals

Contents

Life

Worldly career

Statue of St. Ambrose.
Statue of St. Ambrose.

Ambrose was born into a Frankish Christian family between about 337 and 340 and was raised in Trier. The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group Events By Place Roman Empire September 9 — Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans succeed their Events By Place Roman Empire Constantinople, capital of Emperor Constantius II, becomes the largest city of the world taking Trier (Trèves Luxembourgish: Tréier; Augusta Treverorum is a City in Germany on the banks of the Moselle River. He was the son of a praetorian prefect of Gallia Narbonensis[1]; his mother was a woman of intellect and piety. Gallia Narbonensis ( Narbonese Gaul) was a Roman province located in what is now Languedoc and Provence, in southern France. There is a legend that as an infant, a swarm of bees settled on his face while he lay in his cradle, leaving behind a drop of honey. Bees are flying Insects closely related to Wasps and Ants Bees are a Monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the His father considered this a sign of his future eloquence and honeyed tongue. Christian symbolism is defined as the investing of outward things or actions with an inner meaning the expression of Christian ideas For this reason, bees and beehives often appear in the saint's symbology. A beehive is in a general sense an enclosed structure in which some species of Honey bees (genus Apis) live and raise their young Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings Each Saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life

After the early death of his father, Ambrose followed his father's career. He was educated in Rome, studying literature, law, and rhetoric. Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter Law is a system of rules enforced through a set of Institutions used as an instrument to underpin civil obedience politics economics and society Rhetoric has had many definitions no simple definition can do it justice 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[1]. Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities the commander of an Army, either before Events By Place Roman Empire Valentinian I defeats the Quadi and the Sarmates. A Roman governor was an official either elected or appointed to be the chief administrator of Roman law throughout one or more of the many provinces constituting the Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Ambrose made an excellent administrator in this important position and soon became very popular.

Bishop of Milan

St. Ambrose, by Francisco de Zurbarán
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 Arians. Francisco de Zurbarán ( November 7 1598 &ndash August 27 1664) was a Spanish painter. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. In 374, Auxentius, bishop of Milan, died, and the Arians challenged the succession. Events By Place The Americas May 4 — Spearthrower Owl becomes emperor of Teotihuacan. 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. [1] 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. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy.

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, 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. At that time Arianism dominated especially among the higher levels of society. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. In his pursuit of the study of theology with Simplician, a presbyter of Rome he was to excel. Saint Simplician (d August 13, 400) succeeded Saint Ambrose as Bishop of Milan in 397 Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations then a synonym of episkopos (which has now come to mean Bishop 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, Origen, Athanasius, and Basil of Caesarea, with whom he was also exchanging letters. Philo (20 BC - 50 AD) known also as Philo of Alexandria (gr Φίλων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς Philo Judaeus, Philo Judaeus of Alexandria Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (c 330 – January 1, 379) (Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας Latin (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 Arians, Ambrose sought to theologically refute their propositions, considered as heretical. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. The Arians appealed to many high level leaders and clergy in both the Western and Eastern empires. Although the western Emperor Gratian held orthodox belief in the Nicene creed, the younger Valentinian, who became his colleague in the empire, adhered to the Arian creed. For other figures with this name see Gratian (disambiguation. The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of Flavius Valentinianus Junior (371 – 15 May 392) known usually by his Anglicised name Valentinian II, was a Roman Emperor 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. Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea.

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. Dacia ripensis ( Greek: Ρειπήσιος English translation: "from the banks of the Danube" was the name of a Roman province (part of Dacia For other figures with this name see Gratian (disambiguation. 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. A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church convened to decide an issue of doctrine administration or application Aquileia (also called Aquilegia, Friulian Acuilee/Aquilee, Slovene Oglej) is an ancient Roman city in what is Events By Place Roman Empire A deputation from the Roman Senate delivers to Gratianus the robe of the Pontifex Maximus 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, along with a considerable number of clergy and laity, especially military, professed the Arian faith. Events By Place Roman Empire Theodosius I concludes peace with Persia, dividing Armenia between them For other uses of the name see Justina Justina (died 388 was the second wife of the Roman Emperor Valentinian I Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. In religious organizations the laity comprises all persons who are not Clergy. They attempted to turn over two churches in Milan, one in the city, the other in the suburbs, to the Arians. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Ambrose refused and was required to answer for his conduct before the council. [1] 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: 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. The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa) was originally used to describe a Roman Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year.

In spite of Imperial opposition, Bishop Ambrose declared:

“ 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 Christ. A prison, penitentiary, or correctional facility is a place in which individuals are physically confined or interned and usually deprived of a range of Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) I will not call upon the people to succour me; I will die at the foot of the altar rather than desert it. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place The tumult of the people I will not encourage: but God alone can appease it. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. ”

Ambrose and emperors

Saint Ambrose and emperor Theodosius by Van Dyck.
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. Magnus Maximus (ca 335&ndash August 28, 388) also known as Maximianus, was an Hispanic usurper of the Western Roman Empire Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western

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. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. 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 Virgins, and the regular observance of the other pagan ceremonies. Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (c 340 &ndash c 402 the cultured and prominent son of a prominent father Lucius Aurelius Avianius Symmachus in the patrician Gens Aurelia Events By Place Roman Empire All non- Christian temples in the Empire are closed as Theodosius establishes Christianity Flavius Valentinianus Junior (371 – 15 May 392) known usually by his Anglicised name Valentinian II, was a Roman Emperor The Altar of Victory was located in the Roman Senate House (the Curia) bearing a gold statue of the goddess Victory. The Roman Senate was a political institution in Ancient Rome. In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins ( sacerdos Vestalis) were the virgin Holy female Priests of Vesta, the Goddess of the

To this petition Ambrose replied in a letter to Valentinian, arguing that the devoted worshipers of idols had often been forsaken by their deities; that the native valour of the Roman soldiers had gained their victories, and not the pretended influence of pagan priests; 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 Scriptures; 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. Idolatry is usually defined as Worship of any Cult image, Idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. This list of deities is an index to Polytheistic deities of the different religions cultures and mythologies of the world listed by type and by region A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. 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. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those

Theodosius I, the emperor of the East, espoused the cause of Justina, and regained the kingdom. Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ Theodosius was threatened with excommunication by Ambrose for the massacre of 7,000 persons at Thessalonica in 390, after the murder of the Roman governor there by rioters. The Massacre of Thessaloniki was a retaliatory action by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 390 against the inhabitants of the Greek city of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia Events By Place Roman Empire In response to the murder of his general Butheric Theodosius I orders a massacre of the inhabitants of [1] Ambrose told Theodosius to imitate David in his repentance as he had imitated him in guilt - Ambrose readmitted the emperor to the Eucharist only after several months of penance . David, Arabic: داوود or داود dawud, "beloved" was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible 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. This article refers to the Christian saint For other uses of the name see Chrysostomos.

Ambrose's influence upon Theodosius is credited with eliciting the enactment of the "Theodosian decrees" of 391 (see entry Theodosius I). Events By Place Roman Empire All non- Christian temples in the Empire are closed as Theodosius establishes Christianity Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄

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. Events By Place Roman Empire August 22 — Arbogast elevates Eugenius as Emperor after the mysterious death of Flavius Valentinianus Junior (371 – 15 May 392) known usually by his Anglicised name Valentinian II, was a Roman Emperor Flavius Eugenius (died 6 September 394 was a Roman usurper (392-394 against Emperor Theodosius I. 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. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Events By Place Roman Empire After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is re-divided into an eastern and a western half Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Events By Place Asia The Xiongnu occupy the Gansu area in China. He was succeeded as bishop of Milan by Simplician. Saint Simplician (d August 13, 400) succeeded Saint Ambrose as Bishop of Milan in 397 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. For other uses of the names "Gervase" and "Protase" and their variants see Gervasius and Protasius (disambiguation. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. {Fact|date=March 2008}}

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 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. Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life including food clothing shelter and safe Drinking water, and 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 martyrs, Gervasius and Protasius. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom For other uses of the names "Gervase" and "Protase" and their variants see Gervasius and Protasius (disambiguation. For other uses of the names "Gervase" and "Protase" and their variants see Gervasius and Protasius (disambiguation. The saints, although they would have had 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, Jerome, and Gregory the Great, as one of the Latin Doctors of the Church. Jerome (c 347 – September 30, 420) ( Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Doctor of the Church ( Latin doctor, teacher from Latin docere, to teach is a title given by a variety of Christian Churches to individuals Theologians compare him with Hilary, who they claim fell short of Ambrose's administrative excellence but demonstrated greater theological ability. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective He succeeded as a theologian despite his juridical training and his comparatively late handling of Biblical and doctrinal subjects. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Doctrine (Latin doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or "a body of teachings quot or "instructions" taught principles or positions as the His spiritual successor, Augustine, whose conversion was helped by Ambrose's sermons, owes more to him than to any writer except Paul. A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and

Ambrose was a Christian universalist; he believed that all people would eventually achieve salvation. Universal reconciliation, also called universal salvation or sometimes simply universalism, is the Christian doctrine or belief that all will receive Salvation [3] He argued:

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. [4]

It has been noted that Ambrose's theology was significantly influenced by that of Origen and Didymus the Blind, two other early Christian universalists. Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Didymus the Blind (ca 313 – ca398 was an ecclesiastical writer of Alexandria whose famous catechetical school he led for about half a century [3]

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 Stoic and Ciceronian training of his youth, enabled him to promulgate a lofty standard of Christian ethics. Doctrine (Latin doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or "a body of teachings quot or "instructions" taught principles or positions as the Sacerdotalism (from Latin sacerdos, priest literally one who presents sacred offerings sacer, sacred and dare, to give is a term applied to the system Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid. Stoicism, a school of Hellenistic philosophy, was founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early third century BC Marcus Tullius Cicero ( Classical Latin ˈkikeroː usually ˈsɪsərəʊ in English January 3, 106 BC &ndash December 7, 43 BC was a Roman Ethics is a major branch of Philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life Thus we have the De officiis ministrorum, De viduis, De virginitate and De paenitentia.

Mariology

The powerful mariology of Ambrose of Milan influenced contemporary Popes like Pope Damasus and Siricius and later, Pope Leo the Great. Pope Pope Saint Leo I or Pope Saint Leo the Great was Pope from September 29, 440 to November 10, 461. His student Augustine and the Council of Ephesus were equally under his spell. This article covers the Ecumenical council of 431 For the council of 449 see Second Council of Ephesus. Central to Ambrose is the virginity of Mary and her role as Mother of God. Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox,

Writings

Saint Ambrose in His Study, ca. 1500. Spanish, Palencia. Wood with traces of polychromy. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
Saint Ambrose in His Study, ca. 1500. Spanish, Palencia. Wood with traces of polychromy. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an art museum located on the eastern edge of Central Park, along what is known as Museum Mile in New York City, The City of New York

In matters of exegesis he is, like Hilary, an Alexandrian. Exegesis (from the Greek 'to lead out' involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a Holy 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. Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek, plural) is the established Belief or Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (c 330 – January 1, 379) (Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας Latin 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. Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in

Church music

Main article: 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. Ambrose in the Fourth century wrote Hymns in a severe style clothing Christian ideas in classical phraseology and yet appealing to popular tastes Ambrosian chant (also known as Milanese chant) is the liturgical plainchant repertory of the Ambrosian rite of the Roman Catholic Church related Chant (from Old French chanter) is the Rhythmic speaking or Singing of Words or Sounds often primarily on one or two Gregory I the Great is not known to have composed any Gregorian chant, the plainsong or "Romish chant. History Gregorian chant was organized codified and notated mainly in the Frankish lands of western and central Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries with later additions For the band see " Plainsong (band " For the song on The Cure's 1989 album see " Disintegration " History Gregorian chant was organized codified and notated mainly in the Frankish lands of western and central Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries with later additions 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. A hymn is a type of Song, usually religious specifically written for the purpose of praise adoration or Prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities

Catching the impulse from Hilary and confirmed in it by the success of Arian psalmody, Ambrose composed several original hymns as well, four of which still survive, along with music which may not have changed too much from the original melodies. Saint Hilary of Arles (c 403-449 was a Bishop of Arles. In early youth he entered the Abbey of Lérins then presided over by his kinsman Honoratus Psalms ( Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or "praises" is a book of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) included A hymn is a type of Song, usually religious specifically written for the purpose of praise adoration or Prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities Each of these hymns has eight four-line stanzas and is written in strict iambic tetrameter. In Poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger Poem. In modern poetry the term is often equivalent with Strophe; in popular vocal music a stanza is Marked by dignified simplicity, they served as a fruitful model for later times.

In his writings, Ambrose refers only to the performance of antiphonal psalms, in which solo singing of psalm verses alternated with a congregational refrain called an antiphon. This article is about the musical term See Antiphon (person the orator of ancient Greece Psalms ( Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or "praises" is a book of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) included

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

Ambrose and reading

Ambrose is the subject of a curious anecdote in Augustine's Confessions which bears on the history of reading:

“ 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.

Further reading

· Expositio de psalmo CXVIII – ed. M. Petschenig 1913, Vol. 62; editio altera supplementis aucta – cur. M. Zelzer 1999

Several religious brotherhoods which have sprung up in and around Milan at various times since the 14th century have been called Ambrosians. Their connection to Ambrose is tenuous-->

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. See also Sant'Ambrogio Florence The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio ( St Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. St Ambrose University is a private coeducational Liberal arts University affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. Davenport is a City along the Mississippi River in the American state of Iowa. Ambrose University College (AUC is a private Christian Liberal arts college located in Calgary, Alberta. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.
  2. ^ Known in Latin and Low Franconian as Ambrosius, in Italian as Ambrogio and in Lombard as Ambroeus. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Low Franconian, or Low Frankish, is a group of several West Germanic Languages spoken in the Netherlands, northern Belgium ( Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Lombard is a language spoken mainly in Northern Italy (most of Lombardy and some areas of neighbouring regions notably the eastern side of Piedmont
  3. ^ a b J. W. Hanson. Universalism: The Prevailing Doctrine Of The Christian Church During Its First Five Hundred Years. "Chapter 18 Additional Authorities". Boston and Chicago Universalist Publishing House. 1899.
  4. ^ "The Church Fathers on Universalism". at Tentmaker. org. Accessed Dec. 5, 2007.
  5. ^ Ambrose of Milan CSEL 64, 139
  6. ^ Ambrose of Milan, De Mysteriis, 59, PG 16, 410
  7. ^ Ambrose of Milan, De Spiritu Sancto, III, 11,79-80 [1]
  8. ^ Ambrose of Milan, Expositio in Lucam 2, 17; PL 15, 1640

External links

References

Dictionary

Ambrose

-proper noun

  1. A male given name.
  2. A patronymic surname.
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