Ambrose, Saint (340?-397), was a bishop of Milan and one of the most influential people of his time. As bishop, he acted as an adviser for three Roman emperors and defended the freedom of the Christian church from government interference.
Ambrose preached widely. He also wrote essays promoting Christian ethics and upholding the ideal of virginity. In Concerning Faith (377), Ambrose defended the belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ against the ideas of the Arians, who believed only God the Father was completely divine (see Arianism). Ambrose also helped defeat an attempt to regain government approval of the ancient Roman religion. Historians believe that Ambrose popularized the practice of singing hymns in church. His sermons and piety inspired Saint Augustine << AW guh `steen` or aw GUHS tihn >> to convert to Christianity. Ambrose baptized Augustine in 387.
Ambrose was born in what is now Trier, in western Germany. He pursued a career as a lawyer and provincial governor until the people of Milan chose him as bishop in 374. His feast day is December 7.
