Letter 61: St. Ambrose explains his absence from Milan on the arrival of the Emperor Theodosius after his victory over Eugenius, and after expressing his thankfulness for that success he promises obedience to the Emperor's will, and while commending his piety urges him to be merciful to the conquered. Ambrose, to the Emperor Theodosius.

Ambrose explains his absence from Milan when the Emperor Theodosius [Theodosius I, 379-395] arrived after his victory over Eugenius [the Western usurper, defeated at the Battle of the Frigidus, 394]. After expressing thankfulness for the Emperor's success, he promises obedience and urges the Emperor to show mercy to the conquered. Ambrose, to the Emperor Theodosius. 1. You thought, most blessed Emperor — as far as I could gather from your letter — that I stayed away from the city of Milan because I believed your cause was abandoned by God. But I was not so lacking in foresight, nor so forgetful in my absence of your virtue and merits, as to fail to anticipate that the aid of Heaven would be with your piety — the piety by which you would rescue the Roman Empire from the cruelty of a barbarian robber and the rule of an unworthy usurper. 2. I therefore hurried to return as soon as I learned that the man I had thought it right to avoid [Eugenius] was now gone. I had not abandoned the Church of Milan, entrusted to me by the judgment of God — I had simply avoided the presence of someone who had entangled himself in sacrilege. I returned around the first of August and have been here since that day. Here too, Emperor, your letter found me. 3. Thanks be to our Lord God, who answered your faith and piety and has restored the pattern of ancient holiness. He has allowed us to see in our own time what we marvel at when reading the Scriptures: such a display of divine assistance in battle that no mountain heights slowed your advance and no hostile forces proved any hindrance. 4. For these mercies you ask that I give thanks to the Lord our God, and knowing your merits, I will do so gladly. The offering presented in your name will certainly be acceptable to God — and what a mark of faith and devotion this is! Other emperors, immediately after a victory, order the construction of triumphal arches or other monuments to their conquests. Your Clemency prepares an offering for God and desires that the priests present sacrifice and thanksgiving to the Lord. 5. Though I am unworthy and unequal to such an office and the rendering of such thanks, I will describe what I have done. I took the letter of your Piety with me to the altar. I placed it upon the altar. I held it in my hand while I offered the Sacrifice, so that your faith might speak through my voice and the Emperor's letter serve as the priestly offering. 6. Truly, the Lord is gracious to the Roman Empire, since He has chosen such a prince and father of princes, whose virtue and power — established at such a triumphant height of authority — rests on such humility that in valor he has surpassed emperors and in humility surpassed priests. What can I wish for you? What can I desire? You have everything, and therefore I will strive to achieve the sum of my hopes. 7. You, Emperor, are compassionate and of the greatest mercy. For yourself, I desire again and again an increase of devotion — than which God has given nothing more excellent — so that by your clemency the Church of God may not only delight in the peace and security of the innocent, but may also rejoice in the pardon of the guilty. Especially pardon those who have not offended before. May the Lord preserve your Clemency. Amen.

St. Ambrose explains his absence from Milan on the arrival of the Emperor Theodosius after his victory over Eugenius, and after expressing his thankfulness for that success he promises obedience to the Emperor's will, and while commending his piety urges him to be merciful to the conquered. Ambrose, to the Emperor Theodosius. 1. You thought, most blessed Emperor, so far as I gathered from your letter, that I kept away from the city of Milan, because I believed that your cause was forsaken by God. But I was not so wanting in foresight, nor so unmindful in my absence of your virtue and merits, as not to anticipate that the aid of Heaven would be with your piety, with which you would rescue the Roman Empire from the cruelty of a barbarian robber, and the dominion of an unworthy usurper. 2. I therefore made haste to return there, as soon as I knew that he, whom I thought it right to avoid, was now gone, for I had not deserted the Church of Milan, entrusted to me by the judgment of God, but avoided the presence of him who had involved himself in sacrilege. I returned, therefore, about the Calends of August, and have resided here since that day. Here, too, O Augustus, your letter found me. 3. Thanks be to our Lord God, Who responded to your faith and piety, and has restored the form of ancient sanctity, suffering us to see in our time that which we wonder at in reading the Scriptures, namely, such a presence of the divine assistance in battle, that no mountain heights delayed the course of your approach, no hostile arms were any hindrance. 4. For these mercies you think that I ought to render thanks to the Lord our God, and being conscious of your merits, I will do so willingly. Certainly that offering will be acceptable to God which is offered in your name, and what a mark of faith and devotion is this! Other emperors, immediately upon a victory, order the erection of triumphal arches, or other monuments of their triumphs; your Clemency prepares an offering for God, and desires that oblation and thanksgiving should be presented by the priests to the Lord. 5. Though I be unworthy and unequal to such an office and the offering of such acknowledgments, yet will I describe what I have done. I took the letter of your Piety with me to the altar. I laid it upon the altar. I held it in my hand while I offered the Sacrifice; so that your faith might speak by my voice, and the Emperor's letter discharge the function of the priestly oblation. 6. In truth, the Lord is propitious to the Roman Empire, since He has chosen such a prince and father of princes, whose virtue and power, established on such a triumphant height of dominion, rests on such humility, that in valour he has surpassed emperors and priests in humility. What can I wish? What can I desire? You have everything, and therefore I will endeavour to gain the sum of my desires. You, O Emperor, are pitiful, and of the greatest clemency. 7. And for yourself, I desire again and again an increase of piety, than which God has given nothing more excellent, that by your clemency the Church of God, as it delights in the peace and tranquillity of the innocent, so, too, may rejoice in the pardon of the guilty. Pardon especially those who have not offended before. May the Lord preserve your Clemency. Amen. About this page Source. Translated by H. de Romestin, E. de Romestin and H.T.F. Duckworth. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 10. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1896.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/340961.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.