AMBROSE OF MILAN

AMBROSE OF MILAN, St. (ca. 339–397). This Latin Church Father (q.v.), considered one of the four traditional Doctors of the West, was a Roman magistrate, not yet baptized, when elected to the see of Milan in 374. He proved a wise choice as a powerful teacher, exegete, and defender of the moral authority of the Church, and interacted with several rulers of the Western Empire. His most noted exploit was doubtless forcing Emperor Theodosius I to do public penance in 390 for the latter’s (not unprovoked) slaughter of Thessalonian rioters. He was perhaps more influential on subsequent Christian thought and culture through his deep acquaintance with Greek theology-in particular with Origen (q.v.)-and his transmission of some of this knowledge, however indirectly, to his great admirer, Augustine of Hippo (q.v.). In addition to composing hymns and writing letters, he is best known for his homiletical and written instruction on ethics and the sacraments, especially De Sacramentis and De Officiis Ministrorum.