Letter 83

From: Ambrose, Bishop of Milan To: His sister Marcellina Date: ~394 AD Context: A warm personal letter to Marcellina on the occasion of the anniversary of her consecration, reflecting on decades of shared faith and the bond between brother and sister. Ambrose to his most dear sister Marcellina — greetings. Today marks another anniversary of your consecration, and I cannot let it pass without writing to you. You have now lived the consecrated life for longer than most people have lived at all, and the grace of that vocation has only deepened with time. When we were children, neither of us imagined the paths God would choose for us. You, a consecrated virgin received by the pope himself in Rome. I, a provincial governor turned bishop against my will in Milan. If someone had told our parents, they would have found it — well, they would have found your path more comprehensible than mine. But God does not consult human plans, and his choices are better than ours. You chose Christ as your bridegroom before I even knew what that meant. Your example was the first seed of the faith that eventually consumed my entire life. When I preach about virginity, you are the living sermon that stands behind every word. I am growing old, sister. The illnesses come more frequently and last longer. The work of this see would break a younger man, and I am no longer young. But I do not complain — I have been given more than I deserved, and the only fitting response to excess is gratitude. Pray for me, as you have always done. And know that when I celebrate the sacrifice each morning, you are among the first I remember at the altar. The bond between us is stronger than blood — it is the bond of baptism, and it will outlast the grave. Happy anniversary, dear sister. May the bridegroom you chose so many years ago continue to fill your life with his presence. In Christ, farewell.

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