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December 7: Saint Ambrose, Bishop wey be Doctor of the Church—Memorial
Around 339–around 397
Patron Saint of people wey dey keep bees, bishops, people wey dey make candle, animals wey people dey keep for house, geese, people wey dey bake honey cake, learning, farm animals, police officers, school pikin dem, security workers, starling birds, and people wey dey purify wax
Dem canonize am before Congregation time
Colour for Liturgy: White
Version: Full one – Short one
Podcast channels:
Apple – Spotify – iHeart – Audible
Words wey e talk:
To avoid division, we suppose always dey careful, especially with people wey dey push us to argue with dem, people wey dey vex us and provoke us, and people wey dey talk things wey fit make us angry. When we find ourselves among people wey like quarrel and dey behave anyhow, people wey dey openly talk terrible things without shame, wey hard to bear, make we take shelter inside silence. The wisest thing na not to answer people wey dey behave so unreasonably. People wey dey insult us and treat us like say we no get value dey look for bitter answer wey go mock dem: when we choose to keep quiet, e dey weaken their spirit, and dem no fit hide their vexation. Dem dey do everything wey dem fit do to provoke us and make us answer, but the best way to frustrate dem na to talk nothing, refuse to argue with dem, and leave dem to keep dwelling on the anger wey dem rush enter. This way of bringing down their pride dey take away their power to fight, and e dey show dem clearly say we no regard dem and we despise dem. ~Saint Ambrose
Reflection: For 1298, Pope Boniface VIII name the saint wey we dey remember today as one of the first four Doctors of the Church, together with Saints Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great. This one make e important place for the history of the Church stand firm. Dem born Ambrose into one important family. E papa, Aurelius, serve as Praetorian Prefect wey dey govern Gaul, France, and places beyond. Ambrose grow for house where faith and learning dey important. While e papa dey serve as governor, e mama carry Ambrose go Rome make e receive solid education for the art of speaking well, law, and literature, to prepare am for important work for politics. One old story about when e still be baby talk say one swarm of bees land for e face and leave one drop of honey. E parents take this one as sign say e go become great person wey sabi speak well. As e common for that time, dem no baptize Ambrose as baby; e remain catechumen even after e don become adult.
When Ambrose dey around thirty years old, dem appoint am as Governor of the Provinces of Emilia and Liguria, one region wey Milan dey inside. People see this position as step wey fit lead person to higher office for politics. While Ambrose dey serve as governor, division dey trouble the Church from inside because of the effects of the Arian heresy wey still dey continue. Even though the Council of Nicaea don condemn Arianism for 325, plenty lay people, clergy, and even bishops refuse to reject the heresy and accept the Nicene Creed.
For 374, when Ambrose dey about thirty-five years old, the Arian Bishop of Milan die. Religious trouble between the Arians and the Catholics scatter peace for the city. Because Ambrose care about peace for the city, e personally offer to supervise the election of new bishop. The way e use fine speech handle the matter bring result wey nobody expect. Both sides respect am—Catholics because of e faith, and Arians because e be man of honour. So the crowd begin shout, “Ambrose for bishop!” Fear catch Ambrose, and e run away. E argue say e no get training for theology and dem never even baptize am. But when Emperor Gratian approve e appointment, Ambrose agree even though e no really want am. Dem baptize am, ordain am as priest, and then consecrate am as bishop.
After dem consecrate am, Bishop Ambrose begin study theology and Scripture with great seriousness. Because e already sabi Greek, Latin, and klasik buk dem well, e quickly gain deep knowledge of Catholic theology. E also quick to learn the Old Testament and how the history of salvation take unfold. The way e dey approach Scripture different, because e often dey read am quietly, dey think deeply about the meaning for im heart. For that time, people normally dey read Scripture aloud. Today, dem dey call this practice of reading Scripture quietly for heart lectio divina, and e don become the normal way to pray with Scripture. This way of reading Scripture for heart, together with im training for how to speak well, help am greatly when e become preacher, and plenty people dey come fill church buildings to hear am. Ambrose give imself fully to the new mission wey e get for the Church. E quickly understand say no be only to learn and proclaim the true faith e need to do; e also need to live according to am. Shortly after dem ordain am, e give out most of im wealth and land, and keep only wetin e need to make sure say im sister and family dey well.
Even though the Arians bin hope say dem fit win am over to support their side, Bishop Ambrose quickly stand for the true faith and reject Arianism. E see say the Arians dey cause division for the community, and say e must be the person wey go bring true unity and lead the people for faith. E spend plenty time dey shepherd the people for im diocese, and the time wey remain, e dey pray and study the Word of God.
As Bishop Ambrose name begin spread, Augustine of Hippo, wey dey follow the philosophy of Manichaeism, begin hear about am. Augustine move go Milan to take teaching work, and e begin listen to Bishop Ambrose preaching. Augustine mama, Monica, don dey pray without giving up for her son conversion, and she ask Bishop Ambrose make e help. Even though Bishop Ambrose preaching and teaching touch Augustine deeply, na the bishop own way of life touch Augustine pass. Augustine later write about the bishop say:
I reach Milan and meet Bishop Ambrose, one man wey people for the whole world dey praise as one of the best people, and wey be Your devoted servant. Im sermons wey e dey preach with skill give Your people plenty of the main teachings of Your wisdom, the joy of Your grace, and deep spiritual nourishment wey be like wine wey dey lift person spirit. Without me knowing, na You guide me go meet am, so that through am, I go come know say na You I dey follow. When I arrive, this man of God welcome me with the warmth of a father and show me the kindness wey bishop suppose show (Confessions Buk V)
For Bishop Ambrose, Augustine no see only man wey full of wisdom and understanding, the qualities wey Augustine don dey find all im life; e also see man wey hold those eternal truths dear for im heart and live according to dem. For example, when e see the bishop dey read Scripture quietly, e sense say the bishop truly dey take the message enter im heart. This make Augustine open Scripture and think deeply about am by imself. This lead to im conversion and baptism, and make people come honour am as one of the saints wey don get the greatest influence for the history of the Church, and even for the whole culture of the Western world.
Bishop Ambrose also get great influence over the Roman emperors. Emperor Gratian and Ambrose be good friends, and na Gratian tell am make e accept as dem elect am bishop. Bishop Ambrose later persuade the emperor to remove the pagan Altar of Victory from the Roman Senate. When Emperor Valentinian II come to power as young person, im mama, Empress Justina, wey be Arian, rule on im behalf. Because Justina dey support Arianism, she order Bishop Ambrose make e hand over one church building for Milan to the Arian bishop. E refuse and write to her say, “If na me you want, I ready to submit: carry me go prison or go kill me, I no go resist; but I no go ever betray the Church of Christ.” Bishop Ambrose and im people lock themselves inside the church and refuse to leave. Saint Augustine write about this matter for Confessions, and e talk say, “The devoted people stay awake dey keep watch inside the Church, ready to die with their Bishop, Your servant” (Buk IX). When the empress see say she no get any way to persuade the bishop and im people, she agree to leave the matter.
For 380, Emperor Theodosius issue the Edict of Thessalonica, wey make Nicene Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and ban Arianism by law. Even though Theodosius be Christian wey follow the true faith, for 390 e commit one terrible evil: e order make dem kill plenty people for Thessalonica. When Bishop Ambrose hear about am, e write to Theodosius, demand say make e do penance for public, and tell am say e no get permission to receive the Sacraments until e do so. The emperor obey.
Apart from say Saint Ambrose na outstanding shepherd for im people and powerful preacher, e leave plenty writings wey don get great effect for di Church tradition of theology. For im writings, people especially know am for how e show say Arianism na false teaching and for wetin e teach about di true nature of Christ and di Holy Spirit. E also write about di Sacraments, virginity, how to live good life, penance, and di duties of di clergy, and e write commentaries on Holy Scripture. E leave many letters wey get great importance, compose hymns, and write beautifully about our Blessed Mother.
As we dey ponder di life of Saint Ambrose, reflect on how dem suddenly choose am as Bishop of Milan when e no expect am. Even though e don set im mind on important career for politics, wetin God want different; so, Ambrose cooperate with wetin God want. As you dey ponder im life, think about any way wey wetin you want different from wetin God want for you. As you dey do so, try to follow di example of Saint Ambrose by choosing wetin God want and letting go of your own choices and plans.
Prayer: Saint Ambrose, God call you to become bishop, and you answer. Once dem ordain you, you accept your new calling with full strength and devotion wey no shake. Through you, many people life change, and your writings and witness still dey change people life. Abeg, pray for me, make I open myself more fully to wetin God want for my life, always surrender wetin I prefer and accept wetin God prefer. Saint Ambrose of Milan, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Dem take dis reflection from:
Saint Dem and Feast Dem for di Liturgical Year
Volume One–Four
Read More:
Catholic Saint Dem & Feast Dem
Butler: Di Life Story of di Saint dem
All di Saint Dem for di Liturgical Year
(Short Version)
December 7: Saint Ambrose, Bishop wey be Doctor of the Church—Memorial
c. 339–c. 397
Patron Saint of people wey dey rear bees, bishops, people wey dey make candles, domestic animals, geese, people wey dey bake honey cake, learning, livestock, police officers, schoolchildren, security workers, starling birds, and people wey dey refine wax
Canonization wey happen before dem establish di Congregation
For 1298, Pope Boniface VIII name di saint wey we dey celebrate today as one of di first four Doctors of di Church, together with Saints Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great. Ambrose come from prominent family, and im papa serve as prefect of Gaul (France). One old story about when e still be baby talk say plenty bees land for im face and leave one drop of honey, as sign say e go become great person wey sabi speak well. Ambrose study di art of speaking well, law, and literature for Rome to prepare am for career for politics. As e common for dat time, dem no baptize Ambrose as baby; even when e don grow, e still remain catechumen.
When Ambrose dey about thirty years old, dem appoint am as governor of di provinces of Emilia and Liguria, wey include Milan. As Ambrose dey serve as governor, division dey trouble di Church from inside because of di continuing effects of di Arian heresy. Even though di Council of Nicaea condemn Arianism for 325, many laypeople and clergy refuse to reject di heresy and accept di Nicene Creed.
For 374, di Arian Bishop of Milan die. Ambrose worry about trouble for di city, so e offer to supervise how dem go choose new bishop. Because e sabi speak well, di two sides respect am—di Catholics because of im faith, and di Arians because e be honourable person. As di crowd dey shout “Make Ambrose be bishop,” Ambrose run away. But when Emperor Gratian approve im appointment, dem baptize Ambrose, ordain am as priest, and consecrate am as bishop.
After dem consecrate am, Bishop Ambrose begin study theology and Scripture with serious dedication. Di way e dey approach di Scriptures different – e dey read silently and reflect on di meaning for im heart. Today, people know dis practice of reading Scripture for inside heart as lectio divina and e don become di standard way to pray with di Scriptures. Im preaching draw plenty people wey fill church buildings, and e dedicate imself to live out im faith. E give out most of im wealth and land, and keep only wetin e need to make sure say im sister and family dey well. Ambrose reject Arianism quickly, and e spend plenty time to shepherd di people of im diocese; di rest of di time, e dey pray and study di Word of God.
Di good name of Bishop Ambrose draw di attention of Augustine of Hippo, wey don resist all im mama prayers for am to convert. Di preaching, teaching, wisdom, and understanding of Bishop Ambrose lead Augustine to conversion and baptism. Dis put am for di path to become one of di great saints of di Church wey go get strong influence on Western culture.
Bishop Ambrose influence several Roman emperors for good, lead dem away from paganism and Arianism, and lead dem to make atonement for di violence wey dem commit. Apart from say Saint Ambrose na outstanding shepherd and powerful preacher, e leave writings wey don get great effect for di Church tradition of theology. For dis writings, e show say Arianism na false teaching and describe di true natures of Christ and di Holy Spirit. E also compose hymns, write commentaries on Holy Scripture, and write about di Blessed Mother, di Sacraments, virginity, how to live good life, penance, and di duties of di clergy.
Saint Ambrose, you accept God call to become bishop with full strength and devotion wey no shake. Through you, many people life change, and your writings and witness still dey change people life. Abeg, pray make I open myself more fully to wetin God want, and surrender wetin I prefer to wetin God prefer. Saint Ambrose of Milan, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.