Catholic Saints St. Ambrose
Dec 7, 2025
Dr. Elizabeth Klein, a Scripture scholar at the Augustine Institute, dives into the remarkable life of St. Ambrose, a bishop and Doctor of the Church. She discusses his unexpected rise to the bishopric, his ascetic lifestyle, and the profound influence he had on St. Augustine. Klein highlights Ambrose's courageous confrontation with Emperor Theodosius and his legacy of pastoral care, hymns, and liturgical reforms. Discover how Ambrose's eloquence and charity won over Augustine and shaped the future of Christianity.
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Unexpected Election To Bishop
- Ambrose was a Christian-raised politician who became governor of Milan and was unexpectedly acclaimed bishop while unbaptized.
- He fled but was baptized, ordained, and installed within a week, showing abrupt vocational turns in the early Church.
Worldly Skills Shaped His Ministry
- Ambrose redirected his political discipline into rigorous study, asceticism, and pastoral care after becoming bishop.
- His Greek learning and silent reading shaped Western theology and impressed Augustine.
Silent Reading That Astonished Augustine
- Augustine found Ambrose reading silently, which surprised him because public reading was the norm.
- That silent reading moment stayed with Augustine and signaled Ambrose's scholarly discipline.
