Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2, Vol. 10 (Ambrose: Select Works and Letters)

V. LIFE OF ST. AMBROSE.

St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan and one of the four Latin Doctors of the Church, was descended from a distinguished Roman family that had been Christian for some time, numbering both martyrs and state officials among its members.

His father, also named Ambrosius, was Prefect of the Gauls—an office with jurisdiction extending over Spain, Britain, and both Cis-Alpine and Trans-Alpine Gaul. His primary official residence was Trèves, where it is most likely St. Ambrose was born in 340 A.D.The exact birth year is debated; some scholars argue for 333 A.D. depending on the interpretation of historical references in his letters.

After his father's death, his mother and his elder brother, Satyrus, moved with St. Ambrose to Rome, no earlier than 353 A.D. There, his elder sister, Marcellina, received the veil Consecrated as a nun/virgin from Pope Liberius at Christmas, though the exact year remains uncertain.

In Rome, the future bishop devoted himself to legal studies, in which he achieved great success. His legal skill and general reputation soon led to his advancement. Around 370 A.D., he was appointed governor of Liguria and Æmilia by the Prætorian Prefect Probus, holding the rank of consular A high-ranking provincial governor. On this occasion, Probus reportedly concluded his address to St. Ambrose with the words, "Go and act, not as a judge, but as a bishop." Ambrose followed this advice so well that, owing to his fairness and kindness, the people came to look upon him as a father rather than a judge.

A few years later, in 374 A.D., Auxentius—the Arian bishop-elect of Milan—died. It is said that during the discussion regarding the appointment of his successor, a child cried out in the assembly, "Ambrose, Bishop!" Although he was merely a catechumen A person receiving instruction for baptism and thus canonically unqualified, the crowd immediately elected him by acclamation.

St. Ambrose did all in his power to escape this dignity, even resorting to questionable tactics, if the accounts of his biographer Paulinus (likely a clerk of Milan) are to be believed. However, once his election was ratified by the Emperor Valentinian, he recognized the appointment as the will of God and insisted on being baptized by a Catholic priest. Eight days later, on December 7, 374 A.D., he was consecrated Bishop.

The new bishop's first priority was to divest himself of his worldly property. He gave his gold and silver to the poor and the Church, and entrusted the management of his estates—save for a life interest held for his sister—to his brother Satyrus. Satyrus gave up his own career to assist him, enabling Ambrose to devote himself entirely to theological study and his other episcopal duties.

His primary studies were Holy Scripture and ecclesiastical writers, especially St. Basil the Great and Didymus of Alexandria—from whom even the great St. Jerome accused him of plagiarizing. His natural abilities and thorough knowledge of Greek served him well when, as he himself says, he had to learn and teach at the same time.

St. Ambrose’s life was a model of how to discharge episcopal duties. He spent much time daily in study and devotion, in addition to the more public responsibilities of his office.