We remember Saint Ambrose of Milan as a beloved shepherd of his flock, defender of the unity of the Church and fighter against the spread of heresy. He brought to Christ many unbelievers from afar and was the spiritual teacher of the father of the Western Church, Saint Augustine Aurelius. Brilliantly educated, he utilized ideas from Pagan philosophers to assert the truth of the Christian faith and modelled his famous sermons on the orations of Cicero. He left a rich heritage of dogmatic writings on the Holy Trinity, the Sacraments, and Christian morality, and went on record as a reformer of church singing. His hymn, "Thee, O God, we praise" (Te Deum), attributed to Saint Ambrose, entered into the divine services of the Orthodox Church.
He lived in an era when powerful heresies were undermining the unity of the Church. Starting as a civil servant of the Roman Empire in c.a. 370, he took the post of the governor of two Roman districts around Milan, when tensions were escalating between the area's right-believers and the Arians. Four years later, the position of bishop became vacant, and each side was pressing for their bishop. In his capacity as the governor, he came to resolve the conflict, but unexpectedly, the people at the church began to chant, Ambrose for bishop! Ambrose, only a catechumen at the time, tried to refuse and even fled the city, but according to tradition, his horse brought him back to the church.
He accepted his ordination as obedience to God's will. He gave away his estate and adopted a strict ascetic life. As a pastor, he combined strictness with exceptional mercy and kindness. With bravery, he imposed a strict penance on Emperor Theodosius for the mass killing of the people of Thessalonica. He asserted the principle "The emperor in church, not above the church" and gave equal treatment to commoners and royals. He used his gift of wonderworking, to heal people from illness. One time in Florence, he resurrected a dead boy.
In the words of Saint Augustine Aurelius, Saint Ambrose started as someone who wanted nothing to do with leading the Church. But when it became clear to him that he was God's chosen, he devoted his whole life to His service. His example gives courage to all who are in doubt and dares us to face the challenges before us in our spiritual lives and everyday affairs.
