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May 25th, 2009
Santa Cruz, California
Received by FAB
I am here, Ambrose.
I am glad you are seeing value in the orthodox Christian experience,
as well as realizing its errors. For we church fathers did indeed
care for truth, and we also cared about nurturing the soul. Religion
abides in the heart, and I understood this.
Saint Ambrose (c. between 337 and 340 – 4 April 397) was a
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. Ambrose was the Governor of Aemilia-Liguria
in northern Italy until 374 when he became the Bishop of Milan.
He was a very popular political figure, and since he was the Governor
in the effective capital in the Roman West, he was a recognizable
figure in the court of the Emperor, then Valentinian_I. Ambrose
never married.
In the late 300s there was a deep conflict in the diocese of Milan
between the Catholics and Arians. In 374 the bishop of Milan, Auxentius,
an Arian, died, and the Arians challenged the succession. Ambrose
went to the church where the election was to take place, to prevent
an uproar, which was probable in this crisis. His address was interrupted
by a call "Ambrose, bishop!", which was taken up by the
whole assembly.
Ambrose was known to be Catholic in belief, 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. 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 Marcellina (who later became a nun), and committed
the care of his family to his brother. Ambrose also wrote a treatise
by the name of "The Goodness Of Death". (Source: Wikipedia)
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