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St Ambrose, 340-397. Pastoral Doctor, Feast Dec 7th.
Wise leaders will benefit enormously by reading about Ambrose. Those with religious, political or civic leadership role might want to reflect and study this exceptional saint and leader. When you want to lead others and demonstrate transforming leadership, Ambrose is a masterful model.
This extraordinary doctor of the Church was an outsider. He had little to do with institutional religion at first. However, his charitable fires within himself asked for accountability, service and goodwill. It has been said that joy is the unmistakable sign of God’s presence and Ambrose had powerful presence. Decisiveness, solid experience, wisdom and a noble heart reveal great leaders. Ambrose had these qualities in a high degree. To start, he was not a religious person or in organized religion. He was a politician. He possessed powerful presence by his words, actions and godly virtue. Once God called him, through the voice of the people, his commitment was irrevocable and irreversible. If one is open to truth, that powerful force will find, shape and lead you even if one is living a dissolute life on earth. Grace is transforming and it is given and offered to us non-stop when we are willing to accept it. It is offered to us increasingly until our last breath.
Ambrose will guide you to place service to God and neighbor as the first choice no matter your calling when you seek his counsel. Better yet, pray to Ambrose to assist you in the decision-making process. Pastors, parents and those who have to lead others and make decisions have him as an excellent role model. It is sometimes difficult to choose between two choices that are both correct. We want to make the very best decisions to guide and assist others. Leadership isn’t easy because we have to make continual choices. We need guidance and wisdom to choose the best. It would be impossible to choose the best all the time without supernatural assistance. God and the saints are ever ready to guide, move and direct us with earnest supplications.
One portrait of Ambrose is depicted standing holding a miniature church in his left hand and a bishop's crosier in his right. There is a beehive at the base of the picture with bees buzzing around it. This picture reveals his dominant profile: caring and protecting the Church with wise leadership. The beehive and bees are symbols of wisdom.
In other sketches of him, his face is thin with big eyes set deep within a long, gaunt face. This image belongs to the very first doctor of the Western Roman World according to the official roster of the Catholic Church.
The saint's family was rich, aristocratic and his father held a very high political office. Ambrose was bright, well educated, a poet and a famous speaker. He was very familiar with the philosophers and thinkers of his day.
St Ambrose would take charge of the Church as a mother cares for her child. He was fastidious in overseeing that anyone-emperor, high official in government or other members of churches would not interfere with his responsibilities as leader of the Church. He protected the Church as a mother would her infant, watching over it with zealous and solicitous concern and always uplifting his own members by his ever-watchful eyes.
He let everyone know that he was responsible for the Church while the emperor was responsible for the empire. He coined many phrases. Two examples are: "The emperor is in the Church, not above the Church." And, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." He was practical and levelheaded. He could quote Cicero at a snap and he was unafraid to quote a pagan author if it fit his need or his members. He was familiar with law and used it for the Church and his flock.
He took Jesus' words literally when He said: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God’s." He was a strong bishop, never doubting, never wavering and telling it straight with no ifs, buts, or maybes. He was a fighter and controversial. He was loved and hated. Ambrose would call your bluff if you challenged him. He was a no nonsense guy and he didn't back down. He would dare people to "mess” with the Church. His own people would rally behind him in the face of imperial troops. Ambrose definitively separated church from state at a time when it was most needed and necessary.
This young man was appointed Roman Governor of Milan. How anyone with such a background, I mean, not even baptized, could become bishop almost overnight can only be attributed to God's amazing providence and care for His Church. He became bishop under strange circumstances. He is an astonishing model for catechumens because God chose him as bishop when he, himself, was still a catechumen. Anyone who wants to belong to Christ’s Church will have a dear friend in Ambrose and he will spiritually embrace you. That’s how he was accepted and he will do the same for you through the power of his pastoral spirit and intercession.
Ambrose was a great administrator, had superb leadership skills and took his responsibilities most seriously. As governor one day he was officiating in the cathedral. He was merely trying to keep order because there were many people present. The people were choosing a new bishop in the cathedral. Suddenly, Ambrose's name went into nomination and before he knew what had happened, God had chosen him through the people to become their new bishop. Apparently everyone knew more about him than he knew of them. And, they wanted this passionate leader for qualities they saw in him even if he did not. He was a man of action, fearless and the people would not allow him to refuse their nomination. The bishops and the pope confirmed the people's choice. Even protests to the emperor by this reluctant nominee accomplished nothing.
Our saint proved to be a staunch defender, protector and pastoral bishop of the Catholic Church as no other. He gave his riches to the Church and to the poor when chosen. He was an eager student of Holy Scriptures and to the previous writers of the Church. He guarded the Church from the Arian heretics of his time and led the emperor and his queen to do penance for past crimes. He accomplished this with firmness, compassion and bluntly telling others if and when they had did a serious wrong then penance was necessary or else he would not perform any services for them until is was done. Talk about someone who converted others? Ambrose had powerful presence!
Despite his worldly trappings and background, he had another invisible side that was totally spiritual. Mothers would be afraid to allow their daughters to hear his homilies because he was an enthusiastic champion of consecrated virginity. In advocating virginity, according to Fr. Christopher's book on the doctors, Ambrose often spoke of the peerless Virgin. He often used Mary's life as the pattern in giving people practical direction in habits of virtue.
He spared "no bones" in telling anyone spiritual qualities that he believed. That gift, combined with his excellent speaking ability, was inspiring enough to help convert Augustine back to the faith. Ambrose, personally, baptized him. Is it any wonder that St Monica knew God had answered all her prayers? All mothers can be assured that their prayers will be answered if they importune and pursue God daily with prayers and supplications for their love ones. Those parents who know their children have abandoned the Church or do not go to church any more might read the life of St Monica for hope and inspiration.
As the first doctor of the Church, he made it patently clear and claimed, from the very outset, that Mary had life-long virginity. The Council of Milan and the Church made it official in the year 340 by the doctrine: "Mary, Ever Virgin". Ambrose understood Mary as a symbol for the Church and Augustine reiterated this idea. Both were instrumental in initiating Marian thinking in the Western Church. We find in the writings of Ambrose according to Luigi Gambero the first important Marian doctrine within Western Christianity. Ambrose is the first Christian author to call Mary the type and image of the Church. She is the type of the Church because she was a virgin, immaculate and married. He was one of the strongest opponents of Arianism in the West. His homilies and other writings on faith, the Holy Spirit, the Incarnation, the sacraments and other subjects were pastoral and practical.
To get a concise overview of each doctor read the Catholic Almanac. It will highlight them in three pages. It is the most complete one-volume source of facts and information on the Catholic Church. It is listed in the Sources.
Our pastor doctor had a universal appeal. He knew both the ways of the world and the Spirit and he exemplifies the truly Catholic character of Christianity.
Ambrose left many important writings on the doctrines of our holy faith that we would be wise to ponder. God called him to minister within the world for the first thirty-five years of his life. Afterwards, he gave everything to the Church. With his tremendous, pastoral guardianship acting as his staunch defense, he protected its members from hostile forces both within and without the Church.
Sometimes God wants us in places that we do not want. There are jobs that we do not want to be in but we are there. There are many circumstances that affect our lives that we do not prefer. These circumstances are a part of the providence of God. Let us pray to Ambrose that we make the best of a bad situation. Isn't that what Jesus did on Calvary?
The Catholic Church holds up endless images of Jesus Christ. In all of His images and roles, many churches today depict Jesus as the pastor and good shepherd who cares tenderly for the flock. The pastors afford protection and guardianship. During Jesus' lifetime, many settings were pastoral and the setting for the shepherd was common.
People today need wise and strong leadership as no other time in its history. The past century has been most brutal, barbaric and blood-spilled since the birth of Christ. We have witnessed four world wars, holocausts, genocides and senseless and unmatched killings. Over sixty million in the past century alone have been killed, murdered, maimed or destroyed because of war, terror, violence and untold inhumanity toward other human beings. As of September 11th, 2001, Americans and other countries have lost upwards to 7,000 people and many nations are supporting us. America is at war with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
All leaders today need Jesus’ message of peace. Ambrose was an exemplary leader to humankind. We still have pastors and people who resemble Ambrose today. We need more to pastor the flock. Speaking the words of God to any sincere person will help them become more sincere, open and child-like. The pastor is a mother and father figure. He or she represents the Almighty Father or God our Mother who has given us spiritual birth. When the pastor speaks the word of God to a listening and receptive mind and heart, even justified hatred, if such exit, becomes dissolved, dissipated, released and lessened. Why? Because by the very nature of God and God’s laws, hatred and love can not coexist together. That is why, later, there will be a heaven and a hell. God unites; hate divides, separates and is uncaring.
God is a joiner, a uniter and a bonder. We are pages of the Almighty’s book and God has written His message on each page. The book is unfinished as long as we live and breathe. The pastor breathes life into the pages and the words become clear and meaningful each and every time the word of God is preached. The word that Ambrose preached helped many to remember prayer and if they had ever been to church and when. It reminds us if and when we have been on our knees, adoring, petitioning, loving and thanking God. Many of us did this as a child. Our mothers and love ones guided us when we were too young to remember.
This pastoral, saint-doctor, Ambrose, struck a chord in Augustine’s heart. Any pastor will likewise produce the same results if animated by Jesus’ Spirit who lives in all people. For those who have charity, God dwells in them. Ambrose’s words, stories and messages about Jesus were not only meant for St Monica’s son. God wants all-young and old, sinners and saints, believers and non-believers. God craves our friendship. God is Almighty and His friendship and intimacy gives us His strength. The mighty One who created heaven and earth longs to share with us divine, creative power. Love is creative energy. Whether we realized it or not, God wants us to be united ever so close so that we can make this world a better place. His blood has been spilled for all in order that we stop spilling the blood of others. Yes, we are our brother’s keepers and we need to think as a global community which cannot exits without one another.
All can be as a pastor. This includes fathers, mothers and the single state. It means caring sincerely and seriously for all. Be humane always. Deal with people as God’s creatures. Respect them. Pray in order that you may overlook their weakness, errors and sins knowing that God has forgiven yours.
Every pastor, mother, father and those responsible for leadership in and outside of the Church, government, business, family and the community might beg Ambrose for guidance. St Ambrose is a model for those who want to put Christ first and foremost in all one’s dealing with others.
The following is taken from Magnificat, 12/98 on St Ambrose’s feast, December 7th. It is a reflection on the gift of forgiveness that everyone needs to put into practice.
If our Lord Jesus felt compassion for us, it was not to frighten us away, but to call us to Him. He came to us as a gentle, humble man, and said: “Come to me all whose work is hard, whose load is heavy; and I will give you relief” (Matthew 11:28). So the Lord Jesus relieves us: He excludes none, nor does He send anyone away. And so it was right that He should have chosen, as messengers of His will, disciples who would gather God’s people together, not disdain them. Some people pay reverence to God only because they think He has the power to forgive sins. But no one does greater harm than he who wishes to breech the Lord’s commandments while still retaining the gift that has already been offered. Indeed, as the Lord Jesus Himself said in the Gospel: “Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive any man’s sins, they stand forgiven; if you pronounce them unforgiven, unforgiven they remain” (John 20:22-23) Who is it who honors the Lord more: he who obeys His commands, or he who resists them?
If Ambrose could speak to us today, he would be the first to admit that his life took a radical turn when he became an elected Church official. He didn’t want it or expect it. But it happened. He had to be wise enough to accept it. It took courage. He received it. We can be sure that he holds up Mary as one of his shining examples to obtain this courage.
Listen to his words regarding Mary at the foot of the cross. “She, who did not fear her Son’s killers, assisted at his generous martyrdom.” Mary generously surrendered to God’s plan. She was bold and brave enough to do the execution of her Son had God not found anyone else to do it. Jesus' greatest pain was perhaps leaving His Mother on earth. His love for us was stronger and greater than death or life, and His greatest singular love was His Mother and He also left her for us too.
Ambrose is ranked as the Church’s first doctor and the first doctor to encourage us to turn to Mary. All the other doctors down through the centuries have given us the same encouragement, words and advice. The message is always the same: always turn first to Mary for she is the Mother of Humankind.
Our first, pastoral doctor would tell us that our sister Mary is as our first, pastoral, Virgin, Wife, Mother, Widow and Queen.
As a pastoral Virgin, she will guide and protect us to begin to be more pure, innocent and chaste. We are always beginning because we live in the testing arena-the valley of tears caused by our un-innocence. Despite our sins and impurities, Mary can keeps us immaculate like herself. That’s her promise. God has graced her with Her Son’s power. We can have a virgin mind, virgin thoughts and virgin actions when we act with holy intentions.
As a Wife, St Mary will guard and defend the married, the engaged and the single state before engagement. She lived through these three states with pastoral care and solicitude toward her family, friends and husband. She identifies with us. This maiden understood the worries, cares and anxieties of living in the world and in the consecrated life. Mary was no stranger to the job market, making money and providing security for making a living. As her Son was growing up, she and husband had to flee to Egypt from having Him murdered by a mad political leader.
Mary knew from the very beginning, before her Son’s birth, what it meant to be homeless, pregnant and not finding a place to give birth. She knew uncertainty, being on the run and being denied residence. Mary felt discrimination, bias and prejudice long before the public life of Jesus.
As a Mother, she treasures the title of the mother of humankind as well as Mother of God. She is a pastor with watchful eyes toward all creatures as well as the Mother of the Church. She has been given the scepter by her Son which is the symbol for a leadership role. As a pastor, she is the spiritual mother of popes, bishops, husbands and wives and all authority figures in all walks of life and vocations. She is a marvelous pastoral example demonstrating heroic surrender, abandonment and trust to the holy will of God. She showed us her motherly qualities in raising her Son and her adopted, spiritual children in the world and in the Church.
The death of her husband, Joseph, prepared her to live as a pastoral role model for those who have lost a spouse. The death of her Son left her stripped of everything to live for including her very life and love. She is a superb pastor model who can counsel the bereft, desolate, hopeless and deserted. Mary, through multiple deaths and separation, lost her husband, her Son and her God.
Lastly, as a pastoral Queen, she has full power and authority to assist all with warmth, direction and victory in spiritual and earthly struggles. She is the Queen of Doctors and the Queen of all Saints. She prays and intercedes for those who turn to her who may be troubled, confused, tempted or worried. Many of us are plagued by unruly, weird and horrible thoughts. We are drawn by the flesh, the world and yes, the Devil, in subtle ways daily.
Mary always points us to the Gospel and never to herself so that we may remain focused with our mission in life. She fulfilled her mission admirably. Mary was entirely focused and centered to the priority of her Son’s mission.
As she assisted St Ambrose, she will impart to us special graces to know and understand our priorities and overcome all our challenges, obstacles and difficulties. She teaches us service to God first, then, service to all creatures. Each person bears in their immortal soul, the kingdom of God and the King. Mary’s Son, Jesus Christ, is the God-Man. He is true God and true Man, born of the Virgin. His mission was first to God. Then, He spent Himself in service for each of us.
It is quite fitting that Ambrose feast day is celebrated immediately before the feast of the Immaculate Conception. He who so bravely advocated and confirmed innocence, purity and virginity in Mary is honored the day before Mary who is honored as the Strength of Virgins, the Pillar of Virginity, the Holy Chamber of Virginal Wedlock and Foster-Mother of Virgins. God desires all to be pure and holy in thoughts and actions whatever our calling, vocation or daily life offers us.
The last doctor, St Therese, I have called the Doctor of Missionaries and Confidence. The first doctor, St Ambrose, writes clearly and beautifully about confidence. It is taken from the MAGNIFICAT publication 12/01, on his feast day.
CONFIDENCE IN GRACE WE SEE, THEN, THAT GRACE HAS A WIDER SCOPE THAN NATURE, AND EVEN SO WE PLACE A LIMIT ON THE GRACE OF THE PROPHETIC BLESSING. IF A HUMAN BLESSING WAS SO POWEFUL THAT IT COULD ALTER NATURE, WHAT SHALL WE SAY OF THAT DIVINE CONSECRATION IN WHICH THE VERY WORDS OF THE LORD, THE SAVIOR, ARE AT WORK? FOR THE SACRAMENT THAT YOU RECEIVE IS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE WORD OF CHRIST. IF THE WORD OF ELIHAH WAS SO POWERFUL THAT IT COULD BRING DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN (1 KGS 18:38), WILL THE WORD OF CHRIST NOT BE ABLE TO ALTER THE APPEARANCE OF THE ELEMENTS? YOU HAVE READ OF THE WHOLE WORLD'S WORKS THAT HE SPOKE AND THEY WERE MADE, HE COMMANDED AND THEY WERE CREATED.(PS 33:9). SINCE THE WORD OF CHRIST, THEN, WAS ABLE TO MAKE OUT OF NOTHING WHAT HAD NOT EXISTED, CAN IT NOT CHANGE WHAT ALREADY EXISTED INTO WHAT IT HAD NOT BEEN? FOR IT IS NOT A LESSER MATTER TO GIVE NEW NATURES TO THINGS THAN TO CHANGE NATURE.
BUT WHY DO WE MAKE USE OF ARGUMENTS? LET US USE {CHRIST'S} OWN EXAMPLES AND ESTABLISH THE TRUTH OF THIS MYSTERY BY THE MYSTERIES OF HIS INCARNATION. HAD NATURE PREPARED THE WAY WHEN THE LORD JESUS WAS BORN OF MARY? IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF EVENTS, GENERATION OCCURS AFTER A WOMAN HAS HAD RELATIONS WITH A MAN. IT IS OBVIOUS, THEN, THAT THE VIRGIN CONCEIVED OUTSIDE THE NORMAL COURSE OF NATURE. AND THIS BODY THAT WE BRING INTO BEING IS FROM THE VIRGIN. WHY DO YOU LOOK FOR THE NORMAL COURSE OF NATURE IN THE CASE OF CHRIST’S BODY WHEN THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN AND APART FROM NATURE? MOST CERTAINLY, THEREFORE, THE TRUE FLESH OF CHRIST WHICH WAS CRUCIFIED AND WHICH WAS BURIED, IS TRULY THE SACRAMENT OF HIS FLESH-SAINT AMBROSE.
Saint Ambrose (+397) was one of the great figures of early Christianity.
The final comment that I would like to make about Ambrose is that, with his extraordinary confidence, he expressed a positive self-expectancy. He had an overall attitude of personal optimism and enthusiasm. He knew that life is a self-fulfilling prophecy and a person usually get what he or she actively expects. Ambrose expected great graces to be given him by God to do the divine will. We know that his expectations were fulfilled.
The below links relate to St Ambrose:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta07.htm
One pastoral model/need/protection against domestic violence that St Ambrose would endores is:
http://www.archbalt.org/domesticviolence/
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saints/ambrose.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01383c.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/STAMBROS.HTM
http://www.cygnus.uwa.edu.au/~jgrapsas/pages/ambrose.htm
http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/people_n2/persons3_n2/ambrose.html
Who ever heard of anyone saying that temptations are a blessing? St Ambrose says more. The Catholic Church's 1st doctor tells us that we should glory in temptation. Great reading especially for the afflicted. Francis de Sales endured continual temptations.
http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/lent5.htm
http://newadvent.org/fathers/
Pastoral Care:
http://www.spiritualitytoday.org/spir2day/884022brockman.html (Click Index at the end.)
BY CLICKING ON THE BELOW LINK YOU WILL DISCOVER ST AMBROSE, THE FIRST DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, IN NEW DIMENSIONS THROUGH MANY LINKS AND BEAUTIFUL PICTUREShttp://www.fcsn.k12.nd.us/Shanley/broanth/ambrose.htm
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