Saint Ambrose: Letters
Overview
St. Ambrose was an archbishop of Milan and one of the most influential figures of the fourth century. He is one of the original four Doctors of the Church and Latin theologians. His writings had a direct influence on St. Augustine, and his intense ecclesiastical awareness expanded and reinforced the Church’s sacerdotal ministry and the high standards of Christian ethics. He furthered fourth-century Mariology, Christology, and soteriology, and allegedly ended Arianism in his diocese, Milan. These volumes of his collected and translated writings bring the intensity of his ancient rhetoric back to the present, allowing us an unusually full glimpse at the early church.
For The Fathers of the Church series in its entirety, see Fathers of the Church Series (127 vols.).
Key Features
- Contains key correspondence from a Doctor of the Church
- Filled with theological reflection and persuasive rhetoric
- One of 127 published volumes in a well-respected series on the Church Fathers
Top Highlights
“Having stated what is lawful, let us state in addition what is reasonable. Let us understand, first of all, that not only did the Apostle lay down rules covering a bishop and priest, but the Fathers, also, in the Council of Nicaea,87 added the mandate that no one who has contracted a second marriage should be admitted to the clergy. How can he console or honor a widow, or urge her to preserve her widowhood, or the faith pledged to her husband, which he himself has not kept in regard to his first marriage? Or what would be the difference between priest and people if they were bound by the same laws? The life of a priest ought to surpass others as its grace surpasses, and he who binds others by his precepts ought himself to keep the precepts of the law in himself.” (Pages 344–345)
“From the bowl we drink wisdom, instruction, knowledge, correction, amendment of life, control of habits and thoughts, grace of devotion, increase of virtue, a fount of abundance.” (Pages 310–311)
“We know that a half-didrachma is demanded by the Law, because half is kept for the generation of this world—that is, for worldly affairs and use in the home and for posterity, to whomever a portion from the inheritance needs to be transmitted. The Lord, therefore, responded to the Pharisees testing Him with that crafty question whether He thought tribute should be given to Caesar: ‘Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin of the tribute.’26 And they offered Him a denarius on which was the image of Caesar. He then said to them: ‘Render, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,’27 showing them how imperfect they were, although they seemed perfect in their own eyes, for they paid their debt to Caesar before they did so to God.” (Page 111)
About Saint Ambrose
Aurelius Ambrosius, better known in English as Saint Ambrose (c. between 337 and 340 – 4 April 397), was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was one of the four original doctors of the Church.