Bishop and Doctor of the Church (340-397)
His life
+ Ambrose, who was born into a noble Roman family, would go on to become one of the greatest theologians of the Church.
+ After completing his studies, he served in the government of the Roman Empire. However, in 374, while living in Milan, he was elected bishop of the city by the popular acclaim of both Catholic and Arian Christians. Because he was only a catechumen, he received the Sacrament of Baptism before being ordained on December 7.
+ Ambrose was loved by his people because of his fidelity as a pastor and his care for the poor. He was a prolific writer, who wrote on a wide range of topics, including the sacraments and Sacred Scripture.
+ Saint Ambrose baptized Saint Augustine of Hippo in 387.
+ A stanch defender of the laws of the Church and of true Christian teachings, Saint Ambrose died on April 4, 397. His relics are enshrined with those of the martyrs Saints Gervase and Protase in the cathedral of Milan.
+ Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1298, he is honored as the patron of beekeepers and candlemakers.
Spiritual bonus
Today marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Charles Garnier, a Jesuit priest who is honored with Saint Isaac Jogues and others as one of the North American Martyrs. He spent 13 years serving as a missionary among Native Americans in Canada and was murdered by Iroquois warriors in 1649. He and the other North American Marytrs are celebrated in the United States on October 19.
For reflection
“In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth,
and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding
and clothed him in a robe of glory.”—Sirach 15:5
Prayer
O God, who made the Bishop Saint Ambrose
a teacher of the Catholic faith
and a model of apostolic courage,
raise up in your Church men after your own heart
to govern her with courage and wisdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...