Epistulae
To the most gracious Emperor and most blessed Augustus, Gratian — Ambrose, Bishop, sends greetings.
To the most gracious Emperor Gratian — Ambrose, Bishop.
To the most merciful Emperors, the Christian and most glorious princes Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius — from...
To the most merciful, Christian, and glorious princes Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius — from the Council...
To the most blessed Emperor and most merciful prince Theodosius — Ambrose and the other bishops of Italy.
To the most blessed Emperor and most merciful prince Theodosius — Ambrose and the other bishops of Italy.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most blessed prince and most Christian Emperor Valentinian.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most blessed prince and most merciful Emperor Valentinian.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most merciful Emperor and most blessed Augustus Valentinian.
To my sister, dearer to me than eyes and life.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Valentinian.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most merciful prince and most blessed Emperor Theodosius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most august Emperor Theodosius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most merciful Emperor Eugenius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most merciful Emperor Eugenius.
My dear brother, you have been given a difficult see, and I write to encourage you as you begin your work.
St. Ambrose relates to his sister the events at Milan connected with the demand of the Arians for a basilica, and how the people rose up in opposition. Then that on the second day the basilica had been occupied by soldiers, who however fraternized with the Catholics.
St. Ambrose excuses himself for not having gone to the consistory when summoned, on the ground that in matters of faith no one but bishops could rightly judge, and that he was not contumacious because he would not suffer wrong to be done to his own order. And he adds that Auxentius would perhaps choose as judges either Jews or unbelievers, that ...
St. Ambrose in a letter to his sister gives an account of the finding of the bodies of SS. Gervasius and Protasius, and of his addresses to the people on that occasion.
It has come to my attention that certain churches in our province have adopted varying practices in the...
Your question about paradise deserves a careful answer, for the subject touches both history and mystery.
You have asked, as a man educated in philosophy, how Christians can believe in the resurrection of the body.
I have heard of your grief, my friend, and I share it.
Brothers and sisters, I am distressed to learn that the peace I hoped for in your church has been shattered again.
Forgive the delay in writing back.
You have asked me about the story of Cain and Abel, and why God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's.
Let me continue our conversation about Genesis by turning to Noah and the flood.
Abraham is the father of faith, and his story is our story.
Ambrose to Horontianus — greetings in the Lord.
Jacob is the wrestler, and his story is the story of the soul that refuses to let go of God.
Ambrose to Horontianus — greetings in the Lord.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful at Milan.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.
Tobit was a righteous man living in exile, and his story teaches us what righteousness looks like under pressure.
David is Scripture's great case study in the coexistence of greatness and sin.
The story of Jonah is one of the strangest in Scripture, and therefore one of the most important.
St. Ambrose begs Theodosius to listen to him, as he cannot be silent without great risk to both. He points out that Theodosius though God-fearing may be led astray, and points out that his decision respecting the restoration of the Jewish synagogue is full of peril, exposing the bishop to the danger of either acting against the truth or of death.
St. Ambrose in this letter to his sister continues the account of the matters contained in his letter to Theodosius, and of a sermon which he subsequently delivered before the Emperor, with the result that the Emperor, when St. Ambrose refused to offer the Sacrifice before receiving a promise that the objectionable order should be revoked, yielded.
I have given you many sermons, brothers and sisters, and in most of them I have tried to teach, to instruct, to...
Ambrose, continuing his discourse on the death of his brother Satyrus.
Ambrose, Bishop, to those newly born in Christ through the waters of baptism.
I spoke to you yesterday about what happened at the font.
You asked about Psalm 118, and I confess it is a psalm I return to constantly — not because it is easy, but because...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Gratian.
Ambrose to Sabinus — greetings in the Lord.
I have written to you before about your need for a bishop.
Consider the widow of Zarephath.
Addressed to the Emperor Theodosius after the massacre at Thessalonica. St. Ambrose begins by stating his reasons for not having met the Emperor on his return to Milan.
There are those who say the Church has no power to forgive sins committed after baptism.
The pagans call death the supreme evil.
Reports have reached me from several of your churches that require my attention as your metropolitan.
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the...
A new error has arisen — or rather, an old one in new clothes.
St. Ambrose informs the Emperor Eugenius why he was absent from Milan. He then proceeds to reprove him for his conduct with regard to heathen worship.
The Emperor Julian [Julian "the Apostate," 361-363, who attempted to reverse the Christianization of the empire]...
I commend to your care the bearer of this letter, a member of our Milanese clergy whom I am sending on business that...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan — on the death of the Emperor Valentinian.
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.
St. Ambrose excuses himself for having omitted an opportunity of writing to the Emperor, but is now sending a letter by the hands of a deacon, requesting forgiveness for some of Eugenius' followers who had sought the protection of the Church, especially in consideration of the miraculous aid which had been vouchsafed to the Emperor. Ambrose, to ...
Limenius, Bishop of Vercellæ, having died, the see remained long vacant owing to domestic factions. St. Ambrose, therefore, as Exarch, writes to the Christians at Vercellæ, and commences by reference to the speedy and unanimous election of Eusebius, a former Bishop, and reminds them of the presence of Christ as a reason for concord.
You asked why the righteous suffer, and there is no better place to begin than the book of Job.
The Emperor Gratian is dead, murdered by the treachery of men who owed him loyalty [Gratian was betrayed by his own...
You have asked about the status of widows in the Church, and your question comes at a good time, because the matter...
Your conversation last week stayed with me, and I want to set down in writing what I could not say adequately in person.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Valentinian.
You have written about the difficult case in your diocese — the cleric who has fallen into serious sin — and you ask...
"Do not fret because of evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.
I write to you about a matter that has long concerned me: the speed with which imperial sentences are carried out.
You live in a city that sits at the crossroads of the empire, and every idea — good and bad — passes through Milan.
You have written to me about your anger, and I respect your honesty.
Your Clemency has proposed that a council be convened to settle certain disputed matters.
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth" (Song of Songs 1:2).
At Pentecost we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, and I want you to understand what that gift means for your...
I am writing from my bed, which should tell you all you need to know about my current condition.
I will come to you shortly to consecrate your new bishop, and I want you to understand what will happen and what it...
You have asked for my guidance on managing the endowments left to your church by deceased benefactors.
I understand your hesitation.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful — on the death of the Emperor Theodosius.
Helena, mother of Constantine, went to Jerusalem and found the cross [according to the tradition that Ambrose helped...
Today marks another anniversary of your consecration, and I cannot let it pass without writing to you.
"The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1).
The distance between Milan and Alexandria is great, but the faith that unites us is greater.
I return to the subject of penance because the Novatianists return to their attacks.
Ambrose to Vigilius — greetings in the Lord.
I have preached on Psalm 119 for many weeks now, and it is time to draw the threads together.
You have asked what I think of Jerome's new translation [Jerome was in the process of producing what would become...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most gracious Emperor Honorius.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.
To the most blessed and glorious Christian Emperors — Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius — from the bishops...
To the most merciful Emperors, Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius — the Council of Aquileia.
To the most merciful Emperor Theodosius — from the Council assembled at Aquileia.
Ambrose, Bishop, to his brothers and fellow bishops throughout Aemilia — greetings in the Lord.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most blessed Emperor Valentinian.
You will have heard reports of what has happened here, and I want you to have the truth from me directly, not from...
I wrote to you recently about the siege of the basilica.
To the most gracious Emperor Gratian — Ambrose, Bishop.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the most clement Emperor Theodosius.
You know, most merciful Emperor, that I spoke to you recently about the matter of Callinicum.
My dear brother, your letter brought me great joy.
Ambrose, Bishop, to his beloved clergy — greetings.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the church of God established at Vercelli — greetings in the Lord.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Gratian.
This Epistle was written when Symmachus sent his memorial to Valentinian II. St. Ambrose presses on the Emperor the consideration that it is his business to defend religion, and not superstition.
You have written to ask how we should understand certain passages of Scripture that appear to subordinate the Son to...
Reply of St. Ambrose to the Memorial of Symmachus, in which after complimenting Valentinian he deals with three points of the Memorial. He replies to his opponent's personification of Rome in a singularly telling manner, and proves that the famine spoken of by Symmachus had nothing to do with the cessation of heathen rites.
You ask me to write down what I have been preaching about virginity, and since you are the one person whose example...
Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.
To the Emperor Gratian — Ambrose, Bishop.
You wanted to know how the feast of Saint Agnes went.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
I thank you, most merciful Emperor, for your willingness to reconsider the matter of Callinicum.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius — written in my own hand, for your eyes alone.
You have written to me requesting that I meet with you.
Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.
Your Clemency has done what I asked: you have shown mercy to the defeated supporters of Eugenius.
The mystery of the Trinity is the foundation of everything we believe, and I want to set it out as clearly as I can.