{"id":"st-ambrose","name":"St. Ambrose","title":"Doctor of the Church","knownFor":"Bishop Who Baptized St. Augustine","feastDay":"December 7","lifespan":"c. 339-397","patronOf":"Milan, Beekeepers, Bishops, Learning","shortBio":"Roman governor who became Bishop of Milan by popular acclaim. He courageously confronted emperors, baptized St. Augustine, and introduced congregational singing to the Western Church.","fullBio":"Aurelius Ambrosius was born around 339 in Trier to a Roman Christian family of high rank. His father was Praetorian Prefect of Gaul. After studying law in Rome, Ambrose became governor of Aemilia-Liguria, with headquarters in Milan.\n\nIn 374, when the Bishop of Milan died, violent disputes arose between Arians and Catholics about the succession. Ambrose, still unbaptized, went to the cathedral to maintain order. A child's voice suddenly cried, \"Ambrose for bishop!\" The entire assembly took up the cry.\n\nHorrified, Ambrose fled and hid, but Emperor Valentinian confirmed the election. Within eight days, he was baptized, ordained, and consecrated bishop. He immediately gave his wealth to the poor and devoted himself to theological study.\n\nAmbrose became a fierce defender of orthodoxy against Arianism. When Empress Justina demanded a basilica for Arian worship, he and his congregation occupied the church, introducing antiphonal singing to maintain morale. He faced down Emperor Theodosius I, refusing him Communion until he did public penance for ordering a massacre in Thessalonica.\n\nHis preaching was instrumental in the conversion of Augustine of Hippo, whom he baptized in 387. He discovered the relics of Saints Gervasius and Protasius, wrote influential hymns still sung today, and established principles of church-state relations that shaped medieval Christianity. He died on Good Friday, April 4, 397.","miracles":["A swarm of bees settled on his infant face, leaving honey without stinging","Discovery of martyrs' relics through a prophetic dream","Forced Emperor Theodosius to do public penance for his sins","His eloquent preaching converted St. Augustine","Healed a boy in Florence through prayer","Successfully defended churches against imperial seizure through prayer"],"imageUrl":"https://page.gensparksite.com/v1/base64_upload/7355eb611db6c36b1c045c88d48fe35a","imageAttribution":"The Baptism of Saint Augustine by Benozzo Gozzoli (1464-1465). Church of Sant'Agostino, San Gimignano, Italy. Fresco","orderByDate":397}