Complete Extant Works of Saint Ambrose, Vol. I

he was preparing an even more precious gift for the universal Church. For Augustine was present as an assiduous listener to Ambrose, whose words are read in the books of the Confessions:

"I came to Milan, to Ambrose the bishop, known to the whole world as one of the best, your devout servant, O Lord, whose eloquence at that time strenuously ministered the fatness of your wheat, the joy of your oil, and the sober intoxication of your wine to your people. By you I was led to him unknowingly, so that through him I might be led to you knowingly. That man of God received me with fatherly affection, and he cherished my pilgrimage with true episcopal care... And I was delighted by the sweetness of his discourse, which, although more learned, was less cheering and soothing than that of Faustus, as far as the mode of speaking goes; but as to the things themselves, there was no comparison, for he wandered through Manichaean fallacies, while this man most healthfully taught salvation..." (Confessions, Book 5, ch. 13)

I considered him a happy man according to the world, whom such great powers honored so highly. His celibacy, however, seemed laborious to me; but what hope he carried, and what struggle he had against the temptations of his own excellence, or what solace he found in adversity, and the secret mouth of his heart, which ruminated on the tasty joys of your bread, I could neither conjecture, nor had I experienced; nor did he know my burning desires, nor the pit of my danger.