How to Make the Most of Saint Ambrose the Story

The various patronages of Saint Ambrose There is a totally particular one: that of bees and beekeepers. There may be an exciting legend about it. While the saint became just a baby in diapers and slumbering in a crib within the courtyard, a swarm of bees flew over him, and, earlier than absolutely everyone could interfere, they landed on his face and the bees entered his mouth. . Legend has it that this was the starting place of his splendid eloquence because the industrious insects brought a honey sweetness to his lips while he could not but talk.

Saint Ambrose, or, rather, Aurelius Ambrosius, was born in 334–339 in Trier (Gaul), the son of two members of the most important Roman senatorial households. In truth, his mother belonged to the Aurelia family and his father to the Symmachus family. They both converted to Christianity. Aurelius's father was in Trier as Praetorian Prefect, and he too was destined for a political and administrative career, considering the fact that he was in adolescence. Upon the loss of his father, Aurelius and his circle of relatives returned to Rome, where the boy persevered in his research and later started to take part in the city's public life.

It was only through his political career that Aurelius arrived in Milan. The position he was given was that of governor of Italy, Anonaria, for the Roman province of Aemilia et Liguria, whose headquarters changed to Milan, at the court docket of Emperor Valentinian I. As a lawyer, Aurelius confirmed himself to be specifically skilled in maintaining stability and peace between Arians and Catholics, no matter the demanding family members among each faction. This is because of his exceptional eloquence, his sense of justice, and his rigor, which no longer prevented him from being kind to anyone.

The large consensus that he aroused in the metropolis supposed that, although he had not yet received baptism, he changed into being invoked with the brilliant will of human beings as Bishop of Milan upon the death of the Arian bishop Ausencio inside the 12 months 374.

Ambrose first refused, tried to wreck even his very own popularity in the eyes of his supporters, and, in the end, tried to escape the city. but the Milanese had made the choice for him, and ultimately Aurelius resigned himself to the truth that this should additionally be God's will. He paid the fee, was baptized, and became Bishop of Milan on December 7, 374.

From that second on, Ambrose strove to fill his gaps within the look at the Holy Scriptures. It was he who brought to the West the exercise of lectio divina, the practice of having a look at and praying that advocates non-secular union with God through the analysis of the Scriptures. This approach additionally became the idea of his preaching. It was during his preaching that Saint Augustine, among others, converted to Christianity.

As bishop, Ambrose led an ascetic life, donating all of his possessions to the poor and working tirelessly to assist the neediest residents.

During his tenure, several basilicas have been constructed, including what could emerge as the Basilica of Saint Ambrose.

Dinner party of Saint Ambrose in Milan

The mass celebrated inside the Ambrosian rite on December 7 in the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan isn't always simply any mass. In it, the spiritual thing is mixed with the popular, in an occasion deeply felt through all Milanese, working towards and non-working towards. The archbishop of Milan celebrates mass in line with an historical ritual that has remained unchanged over the centuries.

The banquet of Saint Ambrose in Milan precedes that of the stainless theory and marks the start of the Christmas duration. It is not just a Christmas marketplace, although the traditional Oh Bej! honest, Oh Bej! It draws hundreds of people for 4 days alongside the streets of the metropolis middle, around the gardens of the Sforzesco citadel, from December 7 to December 10. It's well said that the curious call of the fair comes from a legend. In 1510, Pope Pius IV sent items to the citizens of Milan through Giannetto Castiglione, the primary Grand Master of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. The children, in particular, welcomed all those presents with pleasure, shouting Oh belli! Oh stunning! (Oh stunning! Oh lovely!).

The fair also has awesome gastronomic significance, with usual candies, mulled wine to combat the cold, and smoked chestnuts.

Because of the Nineteen Fifties, the banquet of Saint Ambrose in Milan coincides with the end of the opera season at Milan's La Scala Theatre.

Basilica of Saint Ambrose

We have already cited the several basilicas built by Ambrose. The basilica dedicated to him is located southwest of the town and was first referred to as Basilica Martyrum. In reality, while Ambrose had it erected between 379 and 386, he destined it to house the relics of many holy martyrs (Satyrus, Victor, Nabor, Crucial, Felix, Valeria, Gervase, and Protasius).