Church Father
"The bishop who humbled an emperor — whose confrontation with Theodosius I established the principle that the Church judges even kings"
Ambrose was born c. AD 340 to an aristocratic Roman family. He became governor of the provinces of Aemilia-Liguria based in Milan c. AD 370. When the Bishop of Milan died in AD 374, the congregation spontaneously called for Ambrose — who was not yet baptised — to be their bishop. He was rapidly baptised, ordained through all clerical grades within a week, and consecrated bishop. His confrontation with Emperor Theodosius I in AD 390 — refusing him communion until he did public penance for the massacre of seven thousand civilians in Thessalonica — established the principle that even emperors are subject to the Church’s sacramental discipline. He baptised Augustine at the Easter Vigil of AD 387.
"You say: My bread is ordinary. But that bread is bread before the words of the sacraments; when consecration takes place, the bread becomes the body of Christ."
"Grant him, O Lord, rest; and if there are still sins, remit them and spare him."
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