Ambrose

Roman theologian and Bishop of Milan (c. 340–397)

b. c. 339 · d. 4 Apr 397

Ambrose of Milan, canonized as Saint Ambrose, was a Roman theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397.

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Recorded as a historical figure.

Letters, and the funeral orations 1 claim — Theodosius does public penance at Milan
Confessions 1 claim — Ambrose baptises Augustine at Milan
Ecclesiastical History 1 claim — Ambrose is acclaimed bishop of Milan
The Early Church 1 claim — Council of Aquileia

For the Emperor is within the Church, not above it. Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — Written to Valentinian II in 386, refusing to argue the faith before an imperial consistory. It is the sentence the Western church leaned on for the next thousand years, and…
I have written this, not in order to confound you, but that the examples of these kings may stir you up to put away this sin from your kingdom Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — To Theodosius after the massacre at Thessalonica in 390, where imperial troops killed thousands in the hippodrome. Ambrose tells the most powerful man alive that he will not…
The palaces belong to the Emperor, the churches to the Bishop. Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — From the account of the siege of the Portian basilica, written to his sister while soldiers surrounded the building. He is answering the demand that he hand a church over for…

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The possessions of the Church are the maintenance of the poor. Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — His reply to Symmachus over the Altar of Victory. The pagan case rested partly on the temples' revenues; Ambrose answers that church property is not wealth but a fund, and asks…
Thou, Lord Jesus, hast redeemed the world in one moment of time: shall Auxentius in one moment slay, as far as he can, so many peoples Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — From the same refusal to Valentinian. Auxentius was the Arian claimant to Milan; the sentence sets one moment against another and is the closest Ambrose comes to open contempt.
When I visit Rome, I fast on Saturday; when I am here, I do not fast. On the same principle, do you observe the custom prevailing in whatever Church you come… Checked word-for-word against the book it cites — Ambrose’s answer when Monica asked whether to fast on Saturday as Rome did or not to as Milan did, reported by Augustine, who says he came to esteem it as if he had received it…