Letter 50015: Ambrose, Bishop, to the church of God established at Vercelli — greetings in the Lord.

From: Ambrose, Bishop of Milan To: The Christian community at Vercelli Date: ~377 AD Context: Written to the church at Vercelli [a city in Piedmont, northwestern Italy] which had been without a bishop for some time due to internal divisions, Ambrose exhorts the community to elect a worthy bishop and maintain order. Ambrose, Bishop, to the church of God established at Vercelli — greetings in the Lord. Brothers and sisters, your church has been without a shepherd for too long [the see of Vercelli had been vacant or contested following the death of the venerable Eusebius, one of the first Western bishops to champion monasticism]. The divisions among you have prevented the election of a bishop, and in the meantime the flock scatters and the wolves grow bold. I urge you: set aside your factions and elect a man worthy of the office. Not the candidate who is most popular, or most well-connected, or most wealthy — but the one who is most fit to teach, to govern, and to sanctify. Look for holiness first, learning second, and influence last. The Church has suffered enough from bishops who were chosen for the wrong reasons. Consider what qualities your bishop must have. He must be able to teach the faith clearly and defend it under pressure. He must manage the church's property honestly and distribute it to the poor generously. He must live in such a way that even his enemies cannot accuse him of hypocrisy. He must pray. He must study. He must be available to the humblest member of his flock as readily as to the most powerful. I know these standards seem high. They are high. The office demands nothing less. A bishop who is merely adequate is already failing, because the times demand more than adequacy. Choose well, brothers and sisters, and choose quickly. The longer you delay, the deeper the damage. Once you have chosen, write to me, and I will come to ordain your new bishop with joy. May the peace of Christ, which you have lacked for too long, be restored to you swiftly.

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