Ambrose of Milan
Ambrosius Mediolanensis
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All letters (133)
1. The gifts of the Lord are ever great and many; in greatness beyond measure, in number incalculable. To those who are not insensible of His mercy one of the greatest of these gifts is that of which I am now availing myself, the opportunity allowed us, far apart in place though we be, of addressing one another by letter.
To the most merciful Emperors, the Christian and most glorious princes Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius — from...
To the most merciful, Christian, and glorious princes Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius — from the Council...
To the most blessed Emperor and most merciful prince Theodosius — Ambrose and the other bishops of Italy.
This Epistle was written when Symmachus sent his memorial to Valentinian II. St. Ambrose presses on the Emperor the consideration that it is his business to defend religion, and not superstition.
Reply of St. Ambrose to the Memorial of Symmachus, in which after complimenting Valentinian he deals with three points of the Memorial. He replies to his opponent's personification of Rome in a singularly telling manner, and proves that the famine spoken of by Symmachus had nothing to do with the cessation of heathen rites.
Your long-expected letter has arrived, and it makes me all the more prompt to return the favor of correspondence.
To the most blessed Emperor and most merciful prince Theodosius — Ambrose and the other bishops of Italy.
St. Ambrose relates to his sister the events at Milan connected with the demand of the Arians for a basilica, and how the people rose up in opposition. Then that on the second day the basilica had been occupied by soldiers, who however fraternized with the Catholics.
You report what I had already perceived through hope and intuition: that the very first meeting opened the door of...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most blessed prince and most Christian Emperor Valentinian.
St. Ambrose in a letter to his sister gives an account of the finding of the bodies of SS. Gervasius and Protasius, and of his addresses to the people on that occasion.
I'm repeating my request on behalf of my friend Sallustius — whom, as you yourself confirmed, you've already taken...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most blessed prince and most merciful Emperor Valentinian.
It's a blemish on justice that my friend Magnillus — who served as vicar [deputy governor] in Africa and earned...
It is common practice for those who need help to turn to proven supporters.
To the most gracious Emperor and most blessed Augustus, Gratian — Ambrose, Bishop, sends greetings.
To the most gracious Emperor Gratian — Ambrose, Bishop.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most merciful Emperor and most blessed Augustus Valentinian.
My dear brother, you have been given a difficult see, and I write to encourage you as you begin your work.
Your question about paradise deserves a careful answer, for the subject touches both history and mystery.
You have asked, as a man educated in philosophy, how Christians can believe in the resurrection of the body.
I have heard of your grief, my friend, and I share it.
Brothers and sisters, I am distressed to learn that the peace I hoped for in your church has been shattered again.
Forgive the delay in writing back.
You have asked me about the story of Cain and Abel, and why God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's.
Let me continue our conversation about Genesis by turning to Noah and the flood.
Abraham is the father of faith, and his story is our story.
Ambrose to Horontianus — greetings in the Lord.
Jacob is the wrestler, and his story is the story of the soul that refuses to let go of God.
Ambrose to Horontianus — greetings in the Lord.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful at Milan.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.
Tobit was a righteous man living in exile, and his story teaches us what righteousness looks like under pressure.
David is Scripture's great case study in the coexistence of greatness and sin.
The story of Jonah is one of the strangest in Scripture, and therefore one of the most important.
I have given you many sermons, brothers and sisters, and in most of them I have tried to teach, to instruct, to...
Ambrose, continuing his discourse on the death of his brother Satyrus.
Ambrose, Bishop, to those newly born in Christ through the waters of baptism.
I spoke to you yesterday about what happened at the font.
You asked about Psalm 118, and I confess it is a psalm I return to constantly — not because it is easy, but because...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Gratian.
Ambrose to Sabinus — greetings in the Lord.
Consider the widow of Zarephath.
There are those who say the Church has no power to forgive sins committed after baptism.
The pagans call death the supreme evil.
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the...
The Emperor Julian [Julian "the Apostate," 361-363, who attempted to reverse the Christianization of the empire]...
I commend to your care the bearer of this letter, a member of our Milanese clergy whom I am sending on business that...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan — on the death of the Emperor Valentinian.
You asked why the righteous suffer, and there is no better place to begin than the book of Job.
The Emperor Gratian is dead, murdered by the treachery of men who owed him loyalty [Gratian was betrayed by his own...
You have asked about the status of widows in the Church, and your question comes at a good time, because the matter...
Your conversation last week stayed with me, and I want to set down in writing what I could not say adequately in person.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Valentinian.
You have written about the difficult case in your diocese — the cleric who has fallen into serious sin — and you ask...
"Do not fret because of evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.
I write to you about a matter that has long concerned me: the speed with which imperial sentences are carried out.
You live in a city that sits at the crossroads of the empire, and every idea — good and bad — passes through Milan.
You have written to me about your anger, and I respect your honesty.
Your Clemency has proposed that a council be convened to settle certain disputed matters.
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth" (Song of Songs 1:2).
At Pentecost we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, and I want you to understand what that gift means for your...
I am writing from my bed, which should tell you all you need to know about my current condition.
You have asked for my guidance on managing the endowments left to your church by deceased benefactors.
I understand your hesitation.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful — on the death of the Emperor Theodosius.
Helena, mother of Constantine, went to Jerusalem and found the cross [according to the tradition that Ambrose helped...
Today marks another anniversary of your consecration, and I cannot let it pass without writing to you.
"The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1).
The distance between Milan and Alexandria is great, but the faith that unites us is greater.
I return to the subject of penance because the Novatianists return to their attacks.
Ambrose to Vigilius — greetings in the Lord.
I have preached on Psalm 119 for many weeks now, and it is time to draw the threads together.
You have asked what I think of Jerome's new translation [Jerome was in the process of producing what would become...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most gracious Emperor Honorius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.
To the most blessed and glorious Christian Emperors — Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius — from the bishops...
To the most merciful Emperors, Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius — the Council of Aquileia.
To the most merciful Emperor Theodosius — from the Council assembled at Aquileia.
Ambrose, Bishop, to his brothers and fellow bishops throughout Aemilia — greetings in the Lord.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most blessed Emperor Valentinian.
You will have heard reports of what has happened here, and I want you to have the truth from me directly, not from...
I wrote to you recently about the siege of the basilica.
To the most gracious Emperor Gratian — Ambrose, Bishop.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most clement Emperor Theodosius.
You know, most merciful Emperor, that I spoke to you recently about the matter of Callinicum.
My dear brother, your letter brought me great joy.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the church of God established at Vercelli — greetings in the Lord.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Gratian.
You have written to ask how we should understand certain passages of Scripture that appear to subordinate the Son to...
You ask me to write down what I have been preaching about virginity, and since you are the one person whose example...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.
To the Emperor Gratian — Ambrose, Bishop.
You wanted to know how the feast of Saint Agnes went.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
I thank you, most merciful Emperor, for your willingness to reconsider the matter of Callinicum.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius — written in my own hand, for your eyes alone.
You have written to me requesting that I meet with you.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
Your Clemency has done what I asked: you have shown mercy to the defeated supporters of Eugenius.
The mystery of the Trinity is the foundation of everything we believe, and I want to set it out as clearly as I can.
I'm well. That should always be the opening line of a letter, since it's what the reader most wants to hear.
To my sister, dearer to me than eyes and life.
Once again I'm extending a loan of letters to an honest debtor.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Valentinian.
St. Ambrose begs Theodosius to listen to him, as he cannot be silent without great risk to both. He points out that Theodosius though God-fearing may be led astray, and points out that his decision respecting the restoration of the Jewish synagogue is full of peril, exposing the bishop to the danger of either acting against the truth or of death.
...simply put, the situation demands that the discomfort of being away from home should make you appreciate what you...
It is superfluous labor to recommend the conspicuous -- like holding a torch before someone standing in sunlight.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most merciful prince and most blessed Emperor Theodosius.
St. Ambrose in this letter to his sister continues the account of the matters contained in his letter to Theodosius, and of a sermon which he subsequently delivered before the Emperor, with the result that the Emperor, when St. Ambrose refused to offer the Sacrifice before receiving a promise that the objectionable order should be revoked, yielded.
I am staying in Milan for the moment, summoned for the ceremonies of our lord Valentinian's inaugural consulship.
The obligations of friendship are not burdens but privileges.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most august Emperor Theodosius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most merciful Emperor Eugenius.
Addressed to the Emperor Theodosius after the massacre at Thessalonica. St. Ambrose begins by stating his reasons for not having met the Emperor on his return to Milan.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
St. Ambrose informs the Emperor Eugenius why he was absent from Milan. He then proceeds to reprove him for his conduct with regard to heathen worship.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most merciful Emperor Eugenius.
Limenius, Bishop of Vercellæ, having died, the see remained long vacant owing to domestic factions. St. Ambrose, therefore, as Exarch, writes to the Christians at Vercellæ, and commences by reference to the speedy and unanimous election of Eusebius, a former Bishop, and reminds them of the presence of Christ as a reason for concord.
Your Holiness has prevailed with Christ through the power of intercession on behalf of our dearest friend -- why...
The apostolic precepts remind us that to those from whom we receive divine gifts, we should offer earthly ones...