Bishop and Doctor of the Church · Feast day December 7
St. Ambrose
The feast day of St. Ambrose is December 7, a memorial in the US Catholic calendar. Below: a short life and 4 sourced quotations in their own words.
| Feast day | December 7 |
|---|---|
| In the US calendar | Memorial |
| Title | Bishop and Doctor of the Church |
| Died | c. 397 |
| In their own words | 4 sourced quotations |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
Governor of Milan who was acclaimed bishop by the crowd while still an unbaptized catechumen — baptized, ordained, and consecrated within a week. He taught himself theology and became the most influential churchman of the West.
He faced down an empress over her Arian demands and barred an emperor from church until he did public penance for a massacre. His preaching converted Augustine; his hymns are still sung.
In their own words
Each quotation names the work it comes from. Bless quotes these in the comments beside the verses listed under In Scripture.
No one heals himself by wounding another.
The Word of Christ made out of nothing what was not; can it not change the things that are into what they were not?
We speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine sayings.
You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to him what is his.
In Scripture
In Bless, St. Ambrose’s words appear in the comments beside these verses. This page’s labels say how each is linked: “on this verse” means the saint wrote about that very verse; “on this theme” means the quotation shares its theme. Scripture is quoted from the Catholic Public Domain Version.
On this verse
Reveal to my eyes, and I will consider the wonders of your law.
Psalm 118:18 · CPDV Beside their words: “We speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine sayings.”
On this verse
Now while they were eating the meal, Jesus took bread, and he blessed and broke and gave it to his disciples, and he said: “Take and eat. This is my body.”
Matthew 26:26 · CPDV Beside their words: “The Word of Christ made out of nothing what was not; can it not change the things that…”
On this theme
Whoever is merciful to the poor lends to the Lord. And he will repay him for his efforts.
Proverbs 19:17 · CPDV Beside their words: “You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over…”
On this theme
But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you.
Matthew 5:44 · CPDV Beside their words: “No one heals himself by wounding another.”
On this theme
But in response, he said to them: “Whoever has two coats, let him give to those who do not have. And whoever has food, let him act similarly.”
Luke 3:11 · CPDV Beside their words: “You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over…”
On this theme
All things were made through Him, and nothing that was made was made without Him.
John 1:3 · CPDV Beside their words: “The Word of Christ made out of nothing what was not; can it not change the things that…”
On this theme
Render to no one harm for harm. Provide good things, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men.
Romans 12:17 · CPDV Beside their words: “No one heals himself by wounding another.”
On this theme
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners! And purify your hearts, you duplicitous souls!
James 4:8 · CPDV Beside their words: “We speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine sayings.”
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Ambrose. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Ambrose keeps December 7 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of December.
All the saints of December Born on December 7? A saint for every day
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