Ambrose, son of a Roman prefect, was governor of the province around Milan when, in 374, he went to calm a disputed election for bishop, and the crowd acclaimed him as bishop himself, though he was not yet baptized. Within a week he was baptized and consecrated.
He studied the Greek Fathers, preached memorably, stood firm when the Arian empress Justina demanded a church for Arian worship, and required the emperor Theodosius to do public penance after the massacre at Thessalonica. His preaching helped bring Augustine to faith, and he baptized him in 387. He died in 397.
Ambrose of Milan in the library (2 works)
- Ambrose: Select Works and Letters — 1896
On the Duties of the Clergy, On the Holy Spirit, On the Mysteries, and the letters of the bishop who baptized Augustine and stood up to emperors. - Ambrose: On the Mysteries and On the Sacraments — c. 390; translation 1919
Ambrose's instructions to the newly baptized at Milan on baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist: a primary witness to the early liturgy.