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December 7, 2003, Sunday, Second Week of Advent

Feast of St. Ambrose

Ambrose was governor of a region in northern Italy, with his headquarters in Milan. When the bishop of Milan died in 374, the people had a hard time electing a replacement (that’s how they chose bishops back then) because of angry factions

Worried about civil disorder, Ambrose went to the basilica and told the wrangling parties to conduct themselves peacefully. Someone shouted, “Ambrose for bishop!” and the crowd picked up the refrain. Ambrose fled, but they tracked him down and insisted that he become their bishop.

There was one problem. Actually, two problems. First of all, he wasn’t a priest. Second, he wasn’t even a baptized Christian. In the space of a week, Ambrose was baptized, confirmed, ordained a priest, and ordained a bishop

Ambrose began an intensive study of Scripture, sold his property, lived an ascetic life, reached out to the poor, and immersed himself in the pastoral care of his people. He turned out to be a holy bishop, and a major leader in the Church. When he died 23 years later, the people acclaimed him as a saint.

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There was another young man in Milan at the same time who, as Ambrose had been, was a non-Christian pursuing a civil service career. Ambrose instructed him and received him into the Church. This new convert because a great theologian, a bishop and a saint. His name was Augustine.

(On Sundays we’ll look at some of the key figures in Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the birth of Christ.)

Angels play a significant role in the Christmas story of both Matthew and Luke.

Belief in angels is rooted in Jewish tradition, which regarded angels as manifestations of God’s presence. (The word “angel" is a Greek translation of a Hebrew word meaning “messenger.”)

Jewish belief in angels went beyond the Scriptures and spoke of choirs or groups of angels (a concept not found in Scripture) and names of angels. In Scripture only three names are given – Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

The Christian tradition has retained a strong belief in angels. The New Testament has over twice as many references to angels as the Old Testament. However, in the Gospels, angels appear and speak only in the Infancy Narrative and at the empty tomb.

The Church has made few pronouncements about angels. It teaches that angels are created beings (not mini gods)…that they are personal (not simply “forces”)…and that they don't have a material body (though when necessary, they can appear in a human form).

People find comfort in created beings who can use their power to help them, and although the Church has no official teaching about them, in thinking about “guardian angels" who watch their every step.