Ambrose of Milan
Bishop of Milan and one of the four Latin Doctors. Confronted emperors Theodosius and Valentinian; baptized Augustine in 387.
Why Ambrose matters
Ambrose was a Roman governor who got drafted to be bishop while still a catechumen — he wasn't even baptised yet. He used the office to make Christianity fit into the imperial Latin world: he composed hymns, wrote on the sacraments in classical Latin, and faced down the emperor Theodosius until Theodosius did public penance. He also baptised Augustine. Without him there's no Augustine, no medieval Latin liturgy, and no idea that bishops can hold emperors to account.
Chain to Jesus
Loading…
Common questions
- Who was Ambrose of Milan?
- Ambrose of Milan (339–397) — Bishop of Milan and one of the four Latin Doctors. Confronted emperors Theodosius and Valentinian; baptized Augustine in 387.
- Who did Ambrose of Milan teach?
- Augustine of Hippo.
- Who did Ambrose of Milan correspond with?
- Basil of Caesarea.
Works
- On the Mysteries / On the Sacramentsc. 390
Mystagogical catechesis on baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist — primary source for early Latin liturgy.
- On the Duties of the Clergyc. 391
Christian adaptation of Cicero's De Officiis, foundational for Western pastoral ethics.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Sources for biography
- Paulinus of Milan, Vita Ambrosii primary
- Augustine, Confessions 5-6 primary
- Ambrose, Epistulae primary
documented connections(8)
- baptized by (incoming) Augustine of HippoAmbrose baptized Augustine and Alypius at Milan during the Easter Vigil of 387.Augustine, Confessions 9.6
- taught by (incoming) Augustine of HippoAugustine attended Ambrose's preaching at Milan and credits him with his conversion.Augustine, Confessions 5.13-14, 6.3-4
- baptized by (incoming) Alypius of ThagasteBaptized together with Augustine in 387.Augustine, Confessions 9.6
- corresponded Basil of CaesareaAmbrose's De Spiritu Sancto draws heavily on Basil; correspondence between Eastern and Western Nicenes.Ambrose, De Spiritu Sancto (passim) · Basil, Epistulae 197
- cited Basil of CaesareaAmbrose's De Spiritu Sancto adapts Basil's work of the same title.Ambrose, De Spiritu Sancto
- knew of (incoming) Paulinus of NolaAmbrose ordained Paulinus presbyter at Nola.Paulinus of Nola, Epistula 3.4
- knew of Augustine of HippoAmbrose received Monica's commendation regarding Augustine.Augustine, Confessions 6.1-2
- cited (incoming) Bede the VenerableBede cites Ambrose among his standard Latin Fathers in his commentaries.Bede, In Lucam, prologue