A favorite prayer of mine: Sinner’s Banquet Saint Ambrose (340~397) Archbishop of Milan and Father of the Church Lord Jesus, You have invited me to Your banquet table, though I only deserve to be thrown into the dungeon. So I accept Your invitation in fear and trembling, encouraged only by Your mercy and goodness. My soul and body are defiled by so many sinful deeds. My tongue and heart have run wild without restraint, causing misery to others and shame to myself. My soul bleeds with wounds of wrongdoing, and my body is like a temple for Satan. If I were to come before You as my judge, You could only condemn me to eternal torment, for that is what I deserve. Yet I come before You, not as a Judge; but as a Savior. I depend not on Your justice, but Your mercy. As You look upon the wretched creature that I am, I ask that Your eyes be filled with compassion and forgiveness. As I sit at Your table I beg You to renew within me a spirit of holiness, that I may be worthy to share Your supper.

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Matthew 7
21.	Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.	Non omnis qui dicit mihi, Domine, Domine, intrabit in regnum cælorum : sed qui facit voluntatem Patris mei, qui in cælis est, ipse intrabit in regnum cælorum.	ου πας ο λεγων μοι κυριε κυριε εισελευσεται εις την βασιλειαν των ουρανων αλλ ο ποιων το θελημα του πατρος μου του εν ουρανοις
[...]
24.	Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock,	Omnis ergo qui audit verba mea hæc, et facit ea, assimilabitur viro sapienti, qui ædificavit domum suam supra petram,	πας ουν οστις ακουει μου τους λογους τουτους και ποιει αυτους ομοιωσω αυτον ανδρι φρονιμω οστις ωκοδομησεν την οικιαν αυτου επι την πετραν
25.	And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock.	et descendit pluvia, et venerunt flumina, et flaverunt venti, et irruerunt in domum illam, et non cecidit : fundata enim erat super petram.	και κατεβη η βροχη και ηλθον οι ποταμοι και επνευσαν οι ανεμοι και προσεπεσον τη οικια εκεινη και ουκ επεσεν τεθεμελιωτο γαρ επι την πετραν
26.	And every one that heareth these my words, and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand,	Et omnis qui audit verba mea hæc, et non facit ea, similis erit viro stulto, qui ædificavit domum suam super arenam :	και πας ο ακουων μου τους λογους τουτους και μη ποιων αυτους ομοιωθησεται ανδρι μωρω οστις ωκοδομησεν την οικιαν αυτου επι την αμμον
27.	And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.	et descendit pluvia, et venerunt flumina, et flaverunt venti, et irruerunt in domum illam, et cecidit, et fuit ruina illius magna.	και κατεβη η βροχη και ηλθον οι ποταμοι και επνευσαν οι ανεμοι και προσεκοψαν τη οικια εκεινη και επεσεν και ην η πτωσις αυτης μεγαλη

21. Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

JEROME; As He had said above that those who have the robe of a good life are yet not to be received because of the impiety of their doctrines; so now on the other hand, He forbids is to participate the faith with those who while they are strong in sound doctrine, destroy it with civil works for it is necessary that the servants of God that both their work should be approved by their teaching and their teaching by their works. And therefore He says, Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, enters into the kingdom of heaven.

CHRYS. Wherein He seems to touch the Jews chiefly who placed everything in dogmas; as Paul accuses then, If you are called a Jew, and rest in the Law.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. Otherwise; having taught that the false prophets and the true are to be discerned by their fruits, He now goes on to teach more plainly what are the fruits by which we are to discern the godly from the ungodly teachers.

AUG. For even in the very name of Christ we must be on our guard against heretics, and all that understand amiss and love this world, that we may not be deceived, and therefore He says, Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord. But it may fairly create a difficulty how this is to he reconciled with of the Apostle, No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. For we cannot say that those who are not to enter into the kingdom of heaven have the Holy Spirit. But the Apostle uses the word 'say,' to express the will and understanding of him that says it. He only properly says a thing, who by the sound of his voice depresses his will and purpose. But the Lord uses the word in its ordinary sense, for he seems to say who neither wishes nor understands what he says.

JEROME; For Scripture uses to take words for deeds; according to which the Apostle declares, They make confession that they know God, but in works deny him.

AMBROSIASTER; For all truth by whomsoever uttered is from the Holy Spirit.

AUG. Let us not therefore think that this belongs to those fruits of which He had spoken above, when one says to our Lord, Lord, Lord; and thence seems to us to be a good tree; the true fruit spoken of is to do the will of God; whence it follows, But who does the will of my Father which is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

HILARY; For obeying God's will and not calling on His name, shall find the way to the heavenly kingdom.

24. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

CHRYS. Because there would be some who would admire the things that were said by the Lord, but would not add that showing forth of them which is in action, He threatens them before, saying, Every man that hears these words of mine, and does them, shall be likened to a wise man.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. He said not, I will account him that hears and does, as wise; but, He shall be likened to a wise man. He then that is likened is a man; but to whom is he likened? To Christ; but Christ is the wise man who has built His house, that is, the Church, upon a rock, that is, upon the strength of the faith. The foolish man is the Devil, who has built his house, that is, all the ungodly, upon the sand, that is, the insecurity of unbelief, or upon the carnal, who are called the sand on account of their barrenness; both because they do not cleave together, but are scattered through the diversity of their opinions, and because they are innumerable. The rain is the doctrine that waters a man, the clouds are those from which the rain falls. Some are raised by the Holy Spirit, as the Apostles and Prophets, and some by the spirit of the Devil, as are the heretics. The good winds are the spirits of the different virtues, or the Angels who work invisibly in the senses of men, and lead them to good. The bad winds are the unclean spirits. The good floods are the Evangelists amid teachers of the people; the evil floods are men full of an unclean spirit, and overflowing with many words; such are philosophers and the other professors of worldly wisdom, out of whose belly come rivers of dead water. The Church then which Christ has founded, neither the rain of false doctrine shall sap, nor the blast of the Devil overturn, nor the rush of mighty floods remove. Nor does it contradict this, that certain of the Church do fall; for not all that are called Christians, are Christ's, but, The Lord knows them that are his. But against .that house that the Devil has built comes down the rain of true doctrine, the winds, that is, the graces of the Spirit, or the Angels; the floods, that is, the four Evangelists and the rest of the wise; and so the house falls, that is, the Gentile world, that Christ may rise; and the ruin of that house was great, its errors broken up, its falsehoods laid open, its idols through out the whole world broken down. He then is like to Christ, who hears Christ's words, and does them; for He builds on a rock, that is, upon Christ, who is all good, so that on whatsoever kind of good any one should build, he may seem to have built upon Christ. But as the Church built by Christ cannot be thrown down, so any such Christian who has built himself upon Christ, no adversity can overthrow, according to that, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Like to the Devil is he that hears the words of Christ, and does them not. For words that are heard, amid are not done, are likened to sand, they are dispersed and shed abroad. For the sand signifies all evil, or even worldly goods. For as the Devil's house is overthrown, so such as are built upon the sand are destroyed and fall. And great is that ruin if he have suffered anything to fail of the foundation of faith; but not if he have committed fornication, or homicide, because he has whence he may arise through penitence, as David.

RABAN. Or the great ruin is to be understood that with which the Lord will say to them that hear and do not, Go you into everlasting fire.

JEROME; Or otherwise; On sand which is loose and cannot be bound into one mass, all the doctrine of heretics is built so as to fall.

HILARY; Otherwise; By the showers He signifies the allurements of smooth and gently invading pleasures, with which the faith is at first watered as with spreading rills, afterwards Comes down the rush of torrent floods, that is, the motions of fiercer desire, and lastly, the whole force of the driving tempests rages against it, that is, the universal spirits of the Devil's reign attack it.

AUG. Otherwise; Rain, when it is put to denote any evil, is understood as the darkness of superstition; rumors of men are compared to winds; the flood signifies the lust of the flesh, as it were flowing over the land, and because what is brought on by prosperity is broken off by adversity. None of these things does he fear who has his house founded upon a rock, that is, who not only hears the command of the Lord, but who also does it. And in all these He submits himself to danger, who hears and does not. For no man confirms in himself what the Lord commands, or himself hears, but by doing it. But it should He noted, that when He said, He that hears these words of mine, He shows plainly enough that this sermon is made complete by all those precepts by which the Christian life is formed, so that with good reason they that desire to live according to them, may be compared to one that builds on a rock.

Catena Aurea Matthew 7

The Monastery of Meteora

Greece

Saint Ambrose

Fr. Don Miller, OFM

Image: Statue of Saint Ambrose | Luigi Scorzini | photo by G.dallorto

Saint Ambrose

Saint of the Day for December 7

(337 – April 4, 397)

Saint Ambrose’s Story

One of Ambrose’s biographers observed that at the Last Judgment, people would still be divided between those who admired Ambrose and those who heartily disliked him. He emerges as the man of action who cut a furrow through the lives of his contemporaries. Even royal personages were numbered among those who were to suffer crushing divine punishments for standing in Ambrose’s way.

When the Empress Justina attempted to wrest two basilicas from Ambrose’s Catholics and give them to the Arians, he dared the eunuchs of the court to execute him. His own people rallied behind him in the face of imperial troops. In the midst of riots, he both spurred and calmed his people with bewitching new hymns set to exciting Eastern melodies.

In his disputes with the Emperor Auxentius, he coined the principle: “The emperor is in the Church, not above the Church.” He publicly admonished Emperor Theodosius for the massacre of 7,000 innocent people. The emperor did public penance for his crime. This was Ambrose, the fighter sent to Milan as Roman governor, and chosen while yet a catechumen to be the people’s bishop.

There is yet another side of Ambrose—one which influenced Augustine of Hippo, whom Ambrose converted. Ambrose was a passionate little man with a high forehead, a long melancholy face, and great eyes. We can picture him as a frail figure clasping the codex of sacred Scripture. This was the Ambrose of aristocratic heritage and learning.

Augustine found the oratory of Ambrose less soothing and entertaining but far more learned than that of other contemporaries. Ambrose’s sermons were often modeled on Cicero, and his ideas betrayed the influence of contemporary thinkers and philosophers. He had no scruples in borrowing at length from pagan authors. He gloried in the pulpit in his ability to parade his spoils—“gold of the Egyptians”—taken over from the pagan philosophers.

His sermons, his writings, and his personal life reveal him as an otherworldly man involved in the great issues of his day. Humanity for Ambrose was, above all, spirit. In order to think rightly of God and the human soul, the closest thing to God, no material reality at all was to be dwelt upon. He was an enthusiastic champion of consecrated virginity.

The influence of Ambrose on Augustine will always be open for discussion. The Confessions reveal some manly, brusque encounters between Ambrose and Augustine, but there can be no doubt of Augustine’s profound esteem for the learned bishop.

Neither is there any doubt that Saint Monica loved Ambrose as an angel of God who uprooted her son from his former ways and led him to his convictions about Christ. It was Ambrose, after all, who placed his hands on the shoulders of the naked Augustine as he descended into the baptismal fountain to put on Christ.

Reflection

Ambrose exemplifies for us the truly catholic character of Christianity. He is a man steeped in the learning, law, and culture of the ancients and of his contemporaries. Yet, in the midst of active involvement in this world, this thought runs through Ambrose’s life and preaching: The hidden meaning of the Scriptures calls our spirit to rise to another world.

Saint Ambrose is the Patron Saint of:

Bee keepers
Beggars
Learning
Milan

St. Ambrose: Strangest Life Story Ever? (8 things to know and share)
St. Ambrose of Milan, Biography and Some Writings [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
An Ancient Bishop Rebukes His Emperor for Crimes Against Life: A Story of St. Ambrose and...
St. Ambrose, Doctor of the Church
On St. Ambrose of Milan Orthodox Feast of +Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Dec. 7th.
St. Ambrose read without moving his lips!
Saint Ambrose

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Thursday, December 7

Liturgical Color: White

Today is the Memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop
and Doctor of the Church. During the 4th
century St. Ambrose fought to eliminate the
Arian heresy. This widespread heresy denied
the divinity of Christ. Arians believed God the
Father created Jesus.

Thank you, Salvation!

Great prayer. Thanks for sharing.

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. Ambrose

Feast Day: December 07
Born: 340 :: Died: 397

Ambrose was born at Augusta Treverorum in the Roman Empire which today is the town of Trier in Germany.

He was the son of Aurelius Ambrosius the Roman governor of Gaul. When his father died, his mother took her family back to Rome. She and her daughter, St. Marcellina, brought Ambrose up well.

He became an excellent lawyer and was then made governor of Milan and the territory around it. But by a strange event, Ambrose the governor became Ambrose the bishop.

When the Bishop of Milan died, there was a big quarrel between the Arians and the Catholics in the Cathedral about who would become the next bishop. Ambrose quickly went to the Church and gave a speech begging both sides to stop fighting and make peace.

In those days the people used to suggest to the pope the name of the one they would like as bishop. To Ambrose's great surprise, the people of Milan were so impressed with his efforts to make peace that they immediately chose him as bishop.

He tried to escape, but it seemed to be God's will and Ambrose became a priest and then bishop of Milan.

Ambrose was a great model and father to his people. He also resisted all evil with amazing courage. He faced an attacking army and convinced the leader to turn back.

Another time, Emperor Theodosius came from the east. He wanted to save Italy from invaders and asked all his officers to respect the bishop of Milan.

But when this emperor committed a very serious sin, Ambrose immediately told him that he did wrong. He asked Theodosius do public penance. The emperor did not get angry but realized that the saint was right. Very humbly he publicly made penance for his sin.

Ambrose had shown the world that no human being, even if he or she is the Emperor, is higher than the Church and that everyone was the same in the eyes of God.

People were afraid of what would happen to Italy when Ambrose died. When he became sick, they begged him to pray for a longer life.

The saint replied, "I have not behaved myself among you in such a way that I should be ashamed to live longer; nor am I afraid to die, for we have a good Master." Bishop Ambrose died on Good Friday in the year 397.

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Advent: December 7th

Memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor

MASS READINGS

December 07, 2017 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT 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.

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Recipes (9)

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Activities (1)

Celebrating for the Feast of St. Ambrose

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Prayers (8)

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Library (1)

Saint Ambrose of Milan | Pope Benedict XVI

Old Calendar: St. Ambrose; Vigil of the Immaculate Conception

St. Ambrose (340-397) was born at Treves in Gaul, a territory which embraced modern France, Britain, Spain, and part of Africa. He studied in Rome and later became governor of Liguria and Aemelia with residence at Milan. While supervising the election of a new bishop of Milan in 374, he himself was suddenly acclaimed the bishop. He was only a catechumen at the time. He was ordained a priest and consecrated a bishop on Dec. 7. He wrote much on the Scriptures and Fathers, preached a homily every Sunday, resisted the interference of the secular powers with the rights of the Church, opposed the heretics, and was instrumental in bringing about the conversion of St. Augustine. He composed many hymns, promoted sacred chant, and took a great interest in the Liturgy.

Jesse Tree ~ Abraham

St. Ambrose
Around the year 333 Ambrose was born at Trier, the child of a noble Roman family. After his father's death he went to Rome, and was soon appointed consul with residence at Milan. While attempting to settle a dispute between the Arians and Catholics over the choice of a bishop, he himself was chosen, although only a catechumen at the time. Thereupon he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the study of theology, and gave his possessions to the poor. He was an illustrious preacher, and through his sermons brought Augustine to the faith and baptized him.

Candid and fearless no matter how strong the opposition, Ambrose was directed to confront Maximus, the murderer of the Emperor Gratian. When Maximus refused to do penance, Ambrose excommunicated him. Later he denied Emperor Theodosius entrance into church for his massacre of the inhabitants of Thessalonica. It was on this occasion that allusion was made to [King] David as a murderer and adulterer, and Ambrose retorted: "You have followed him in sin, now follow him in repentance." Humbly, Theodosius accepted the penance imposed.

We often meet this saint in the Divine Office as a teacher and as an inspired composer of hyms (fourteen of the hymns attributed to him are definitely authentic, true pearls of religious poetry). His writings are vibrant with ancient Christian liturgical spirit, for his life was wholly rooted in mystery and sacrament. We can profit greatly by reading Ambrose's works. He is one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: bee keepers; bees; candlemakers; chandlers; domestic animals; French Commissariat; learning; Milan, Italy; schoolchildren; students; wax melters; wax refiners.

Symbols: Scourge; beehive; tower; dove; cope and mitre; human bones; scroll with staff of music; pen book and pen; cross; chalice; bull; knotted scourge; two scourges; goose; writing tablet and stylus; heart surmounted with flame; scroll with quotation from writings.
Often Portrayed As: Bishop holding a church in his hand; beehive; man arguing with a pagan; with Saint Gregory the Great, Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine of Hippo.

Things To Do:

See Celebrating the Feast of St. Ambrose for ideas.
Read some of the Writings of St. Ambrose, Doctor of the Church.
Food Ideas: Besides the recipes named for Ambrose, other highlighted recipes are honey cakes or cookies, appropriate since Ambrose is known as the "Honey-Tongued Doctor."

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (Psalm 118:27)

Have you ever been in a completely dark room? It’s hard to see or know where anything is. But think of the effect when someone turns on a flashlight or lights a candle. Just a bit of light, and so much becomes visible. That’s how powerful light can be!

Light is such a common theme in Scripture and in the liturgy that we might miss the strength of the metaphor. So let’s slow down for a bit and ask what the light of the Lord does for us.

• Light gives us insight. Turning on a light in a dark room allows us to see what’s there. The light God gives us does the same thing spiritually. You might be irritable or short-tempered around your spouse. God’s light can help you see what is at the root of your irritation. It can not only show you resentments or hurts beneath the surface but also draw your eye to the love you have for each other—love that might have seemed somehow hidden before. That changes how you look at your spouse and shows you how to move forward in love.

• Light gives us perspective. Darkness keeps us from understanding the big picture. It’s easy to focus narrowly on how events affect us personally, but God’s light allows us to see the panorama of his plan. Maybe you were planning to go on a family vacation, but your child got sick and you had to stay home with him. That would be disappointing. But your sacrifice showed your child how loved he is, and that built trust and respect in your relationship. Instead of focusing on the disappointment, you can focus on the blessing.

• Light gives us hope. In the dark, we fear what we can’t see. But light shows us where we’re going. You might be facing a decision and not know what to do. God’s light can bring hope. He might not show you exactly what to do, but he will remind you where we’re going. His light can draw your vision to your end goal, life with him in heaven. He’ll help you see all your brothers and sisters accompanying you along the way.

God’s light is all around you. It is within you. He loves giving you insight, perspective, and hope.

“Lord, help me walk in the light!”

Isaiah 26:1-6
Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Doctors of the Catholic Church

Saint Ambrose of Milan

detail of a painting of Saint Ambrose of Milan; date and artist unknown; Vatican Museum, Vatican City, Rome, Italy; swiped with permission from the flickr account of Father Lawrence Lew, OP

Also known as

Ambreuil
Ambrogio
Ambroise
Ambrosius
Ambrun
Embrun
The Honey Tongued Doctor

Memorial

7 December (anniversary of his ordination)
4 April (Old Catholics; Lutherans; Milan, Italy for the memorial of his death)
20 December (Orthodox)

Profile

Born to the Roman nobility. Brother of Saint Marcellina and Saint Satyrus. Educated in the classics, Greek, and philosophy at Rome, Italy. Poet and noted orator. Convert to Christianity. Governor of Milan, Italy.
When the bishop of Milan died, a dispute over his replacement led to violence. Ambrose intervened to calm both sides; he impressed everyone involved so much that though he was still an unbaptized catechumen, he was chosen as the new bishop. He resisted, claiming that he was not worthy, but to prevent further violence, he assented, and on 7 December 374 he was baptized, ordained as a priest, and consecrated as bishop. He immediately gave away his wealth to the Church and the poor, both for the good it did, and as an example to his flock.
Noted preacher and teacher, a Bible student of renown, and writer of liturgical hymns. He stood firm against paganism and Arians. His preaching helped convert Saint Augustine of Hippo, whom Ambrose baptized and brought into the Church. Ambrose’s preaching brought Emperor Theodosius to do public penance for his sins. He called and chaired several theological councils during his time as bishop, many devoted to fighting heresy. Welcomed Saint Ursus and Saint Alban of Mainz when they fled Naxos to escape Arian persecution, and then sent them on to evangelize in Gaul and Germany. Proclaimed a great Doctor of the Latin Church by Pope Boniface VIII in 1298.
The title Honey Tongued Doctor was initially bestowed on Ambrose because of his speaking and preaching ability; this led to the use of a beehive and bees in his iconography, symbols which also indicate wisdom. This led to his association with bees, beekeepers, chandlers, wax refiners, etc.

Born

c.340 in Trier, southern Gaul (modern Germany)

Died

Holy Saturday, 4 April 397 at Milan, Italy of natural causes
relics at basilica of Milan

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Patronage

Representation

baby with bees on his mouth
beehive
bees
bishop holding a church
bones, referring to the relics of Saint Gervase and Saint Protase which were revealed to him in a vision
dove
man arguing with a pagan
ox
pen
lash, whip or scourge, usually with three thongs; represents the doctrine of the Trinity which defeated the Arian
with Saint Gregory the Great, Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine of Hippo
beehive at his feet
books
at the grave of Saint Martin of Tours (Ambrose saw his burial in a vision)
with Saint Protase and Saint Gervase (they appeared to Ambrose in a vision to lead him to their lost relics)

Additional Information

A Garner of Saints, by Allen Banks Hinds, M.A.
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Catholic Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia Brittanica (1911 edition)
Golden Legend
Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
New Catholic Dictionary
Pope Benedict XVI: General Audience, 24 October 2007
Roman Martyrology, 1914 edition
Saints and Their Symbols, by E A Greene
Saints in Art, by Margaret Tabor
The Liturgical Year, by Father Prosper Gueranger
by Saint Ambrose
- On the Mysteries
- Concerning Widows
- Memorial of Symmachus, Prefect
- Sermon against Auxentius on the Giving Up of the Basilicas
- On Repentance: Book 1 and 2
books
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other sites in english
- 1001 Patron Saints and Their Feast Days, Australian Catholic Truth Society
- AugNet: Saint Ambrose
- AugNet: Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine
- Big C Catholics
- Catholic Cuisine: Bee’s Honeycomb Cake
- Catholic Ireland
- Catholic News Agency
- Catholic Quotes: Saint Ambrose on Saint Agnes
- Christian Iconography
- Communio
- Daily Prayers
- Encyclopedia Brittanica (2008 edition)
- Find A Grave
- Franciscan Media
- Independent Catholic News
- James Paulgaard
- Missed Saints
- Mondays with Mary: Patron of the Veneration of Mary
- Mondays with Mary: Saint Ambrose and Western Marian Doctrine
- Olga’s Gallery
- Regina Magazine
- Saint Charles Borromeo Church, Picayune, Mississippi
- Saints Alive, by Father Rober McNamara
- Saints in Rome
- Saints Resource
- Saints Stories for All Ages
- Wikipedia
- Catholic Book Blogger
  - Saint Ambrose: Rise Above Popular Opinion
  - Saint Ambrose: Sow on Earth, Reap in Heaven
  - Saint Ambrose: Uproot Sin and Sow Spiritual Seed
  - Saint Ambrose: Excommunication is a Last Resort
  - Saint Ambrose: Repent for the Sake of the Eucharist
  - Saint Ambrose: The Anger of Christ is His Mercy
  - Saint Ambrose: Share Everything
  - Saint Ambrose: Don’t Take Advantage of Misfortune
  - Saint Ambrose: Expect Better Returns from the Poor
  - Saint Ambrose: Toss Out the Image of the Devil
  - Saint Ambrose: Ignore Insults and Keep Silent
  - Saint Ambrose: Do Not Return Insult for Insult
  - Saint Ambrose: Keep Silent Until the Right Moment
  - Saint Ambrose: Think Before You Speak
  - Saint Ambrose: Be Christian in Your Conversation
  - Saint Ambrose: Be Satisfied with Enough
  - Saint Ambrose: Help the Church Help Others
  - Saint Ambrose: Be Generous in Secret
  - Saint Ambrose: Cooperation is a Law of Nature
images
- Wikimedia Commons
audio
- On the Duties of the Clergy
- Concerning Virgins
video
- YouTube PlayList
- On the Duties of the Clergy (audio book)
e-books
- Concerning Virginity, by Saint Ambrose
- Letters of Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
- Library of Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church, v45, by Saint Ambrose of Milan
- On Holy Virginity, by Saint Ambrose
- Saint Ambrose: His Life, Times, and Teaching, by Robinson Thornton
- Selected Works and Letters
sites en français
- Abbé Christian-Philippe Chanut
- Fête des prénoms
webseiten auf deutsch
- Benedikt XVI: Generalaudienz, 24 Oktober 2007
- Bibliothek der Kirchenvater
- Florilegium Martyrologii Romani
- Kathpedia
- Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon
- Stadler’s Bollstandiges Heiligenlexikon
- List of Additional Documents
siti in italiano
- Benedetto XVI
- Recherches sur Saint Ambroise
- Santi e Beati
- Santo del Giorno
- Wikipedia
notitia in latin
- Documenta Catholica Omnia
websites in nederlandse
- Heiligen 3s
nettsteder i norsk
- Den katolske kirke

Readings

No one heals himself by wounding another. – Saint Ambrose
Our own evil inclinations are far more dangerous than any external enemies. – Saint Ambrose
But if these beings angels guard you, they do so because they have been summoned by your prayers. – Saint Ambrose
The Church of the Lord is built upon the rock of the apostles among so many dangers in the world; it therefore remains unmoved. The Church’s foundation is unshakable and firm against assaults of the raging sea. Waves lash at the Church but do not shatter it. Although the elements of this world constantly beat upon the Church with crashing sounds, the Church possesses the safest harbor of salvation for all in distress.
There is a stream which flows down on God’s saints like a torrent. There is also a rushing river giving joy to the heart that is at peace and makes for peace.
He who read much and understands much, receives his fill. He who is full, refreshes others. So Scripture says: “If the clouds are full, they will pour rain upon the earth.”
Therefore, let your words be rivers, clean and limpid, so that you may charm the ears of people. And by the grace of your words win them over to follow your leadership. Solomon says: “The weapons of the understanding are the lips of the wise”; and in another place he says: “Let your lips be bound with wisdom.” That is, let the meaning of your words shine forth, let understanding blaze out. Let no word escape your lips in vain or be uttered without depth of meaning. – from a letter by Saint Ambrose
To avoid dissensions we should be ever on our guard, more especially with those who drive us to argue with them, with those who vex and irritate us, and who say things likely to excite us to anger. When we find ourselves in company with quarrelsome, eccentric individuals, people who openly and unblushingly say the most shocking things, difficult to put up with, we should take refuge in silence, and the wisest plan is not to reply to people whose behavior is so preposterous. Those who insult us and treat us contumeliously are anxious for a spiteful and sarcastic reply: the silence we then affect disheartens them, and they cannot avoid showing their vexation; they do all they can to provoke us and to elicit a reply, but the best way to baffle them is to say nothing, refuse to argue with them, and to leave them to chew the cud of their hasty anger. This method of bringing down their pride disarms them, and shows them plainly that we slight and despise them. – Saint Ambrose, Offices

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for December 7, 2017:

Ever heard of limerence? It’s a physical feeling of infatuation for another, like a crush. Although limerence can lead to committed love, it typically has a shelf life of 2-3 years. That’s why couples must transition to a more lasting love. Nurture your romance but rely on enduring friendship—and the grace of the sacrament of […]

Regnum Christi

December 7, 2017 – Flood-Proof Foundation

07 Dec 2017

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come before you in humility and with a spirit of hope. You no doubt have something to tell me. I approach you in prayer, confident of your love and trustful of your grace to enable me to carry out whatever you ask. I offer this prayer for those in my family who might be far away from you.

Petition: Lord, help me deepen my life of faith and charity, to better prepare for the trials ahead.

1. The Façade: It is easy to address Jesus as “Lord, Lord.” After all, we know by faith that he is the Son of God. His miracles and the endurance of his Church attest to his divine nature. Yet, our recognition of his divinity isn’t enough. Our admission that “Jesus is my savior” won’t guarantee us a place in heaven. Faith in Christ can’t just remain on our lips; it must penetrate our hearts and minds as well. Faith, then, implies doing the will of God the Father – in thoughts, words and deeds. How does my faith in Christ translate into acts? Am I satisfied with saying a few prayers, and little else?

2. Out of Sight: Christ exhorts his disciples to build their faith on rock, not on sentimentality. To dig a solid foundation of faith takes hard work. It demands constancy in prayer, charity and generosity. It also requires humility and purity of intention, since the work of preparing a foundation is not glamorous. There’s nothing particularly beautiful about a big hole in the ground at a construction site. So it is in the spiritual life, too; digging a foundation forces us to go deep, to remove our worst faults. The process isn’t pretty. It forces us to face our vices honestly and to rip away the mask we might wear in front of others. Without this step we risk building our lives on sand. How well am I digging my foundation?

3. Too Late: Foundations seem firm when all is calm. Fair weather doesn’t test the strength of a building. The real test comes when the climate turns nasty. The same occurs in the spiritual life. When serenity reigns around us, peace blossoms effortlessly. But when a crisis befalls us – a rejection, an illness, a bit of opposition over a moral matter – that’s when we learn the sturdiness of our faith. Peter, who boasted that he would stand by Our Lord “though all may have their faith in you shaken” (Matthew 26:33), learned the hard way that his courage wasn’t what he thought it was. He abandoned Christ in the garden of Gethsemane, as did all the apostles. How well do I face ordinary temptations and setbacks? How well could I face a serious crisis?

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I fear sometimes that I’m not much better than Peter, who bragged that he would stand by you, but then fled when the guards arrested you on Holy Thursday night. I want to be a true Christian witness in the world, but I need your help to overcome my human respect and laziness.

Resolution: I will do one external act of witness to the faith.

Homily of the Day

December 7, 2017

When I was a young child, we used to have a tree house built by my father. It was small but large enough for five small children, my four siblings and me. I remember my father climbing the eight steps several times to see how we were and that we were safe in the tree house. We enjoyed that tree house tremendously, where on weekends we played, rested, read books and even ate. My father knew we were safe in the tree house. When I was older I realized that our tree house was safe because it was built on a large and sturdy old tree.

If our spiritual life with God is built on solid foundation like the big tree trunk for the tree house, our spiritual life will be sturdy and strong. What does this mean for me and my spiritual life? In the Gospel reading Jesus said that “anyone who hears these words of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise man who built his house on rock.”

The faith we received handed on to us at our baptism must be nourished in our lives for it to grow, nourished by prayer and the sacraments, listening and reading God’s word and listening to commentaries on God’s word and spiritual and corporal acts of mercy and love. These make our faith strong, even in the midst of doubt, temptations and trials. Indeed “not everyone who says to me: Lord! Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.” To enter the kingdom of heaven, we must do God’s will.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 34, Issue 1

<< Thursday, December 7, 2017 >>

St. Ambrose

Isaiah 26:1-6
View Readings

Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Similar Reflections

OBEY OR FALL

"When the rainy season set in, the torrents came and the winds blew and buffeted his house. It did not collapse; it had been solidly set on rock." �Matthew 7:25

Will your life stand when the rain, floods, and winds hit? Will you be faithful to the Lord even if you have to suffer terrible persecution? Will you love the Lord till your dying day, or will you be another Judas? If you are alive during the mass apostasy (see 2 Thes 2:3), will you be in the remnant that keeps the faith?

Our lives are on the rock foundation if we are hearing God's Word and putting it into practice (Mt 7:24). This applies to all of God's Word in the teachings of the Church and her Bible, but it especially applies to the Sermon on the Mount, of which today's Gospel reading is the conclusion. In other words, we must be living the Beatitudes and meeting Jesus' stricter standards regarding relationships, sexual purity, marriage, our speech, and loving our enemies (Mt 5:20-48). If we do not, we will not persevere in our relationship with Jesus but fold under pressure.

We must be a "Church of the Beatitudes" (Mission of the Redeemer, Pope St. John Paul II, 60) and of the Sermon on the Mount. Otherwise, our future is not secure, victorious, and blessed but rather shaky, fearful, and tragic. As we are about to begin a new year, obey Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Prayer: Father, I can't obey You by my power. I accept Your grace.

Promise: "Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city He brings down." —Is 26:4-5

Praise: St. Ambrose blessed others with his teaching and generosity. He wrote: "He who is full, refreshes others."

On Beneded Knee We Pray for an End to Abortion.