ST. AMBROSE : GREAT 4TH CENTURY BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH..........

On December 7, 374 A.D., St. Ambrose, as of then still only a catechumen, seeking to join the Catholic Church, was elected Bishop of Milan by the overwhelming force of the people.  A lawyer by profession, Ambrose was a great defender of the Christian Faith, even before he was baptized.  His predecessor as Bishop, like many of the Bishops at that time, were adherents to Arianism, belief in the humanity of Jesus Christ more than his divinity, a heresy - thus Bishop Ambrose had challenging pastoral work awaiting him.  Ambrose's holiness, fidelity to the Tradition and authentic Teachings of the Church, and effective preaching, served the faithful of Milan very well and attracted many converts.  Among those converts was a young pagan man, Augustine, who until he encountered Ambrose, had lived a wanton, licientious, life. So today as we liturgically commemorate the magnificiently enlightened leadership of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, let us pray that all Bishops and the People of God as a whole, may embrace and follow the Advent Light of the Coming Christ and build the Heavenly Kingdom of Justice, Fidelity, Harmony, and Peace..........In Praise And Gratitude To The Great St. Ambrose,   Fr.  Troy