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ER 1873

Bishop Ambrose of Milan (Italy) in a letter to the clergy of Milan exhorts them to persevere faithfully in their office and resist the temptation to reject it. Ambrose of Milan, Letter 17 (Maur. 81), written in Milan, AD 374/397.

XVI (Maur. 76)

Ambrosius Clericis.

1. Plerumque humanis obrepit mentibus, ut aliqua levi praestricti offensione, si non illis cedant pro studio voluntaria, officio desistant; quod in alio genere hominum tolerabile, in his vero, qui rei divinae intendunt, plenum doloris.

2. Sunt enim aliqui in clericorum munere, quibus inimicus obrepere studet, si alias eos non potuerit circumvenire, ut laesis huiusmodi inserat cogitationes: Quid mihi prodest in clero manere, subire iniurias, labores perpeti, quasi non possit ager meus me pascere, aut si ager desit, quasi aliter exercere sumptum non queam? Sunt enim aliqui in clericorum munere, quibus inimicus obrepere studet, si alias eos non potuerit circumvenire, ut laesis huiusmodi inserat cogitationes: Quid mihi prodest in clero manere, subire iniurias, labores perpeti, quasi non possit ager meus me pascere, aut si ager desit, quasi aliter exercere sumptum non queam?

Ambrose quotes Eccl 4: 9-10 to prove that every cleric should live in a close relationship with Jesus which would be for him the source of dedication and perserverance.

13. Nemo ergo dicat: Non est nobis portio in Iacob, neque hereditas in Istrahel, nemo dicat: Non sum in clero; quia scriptum est: Date Levi cleros eius, et iterum David ait quia is qui 'inter cleros duos medius requiescit', ipse ad superna alis evolat spiritalibus. Non dicas de deo tuo: 'Gravis mihi est', nec de loco tuo: 'Inutilis mihi est'; quia scriptum est: Locum tuum noli relinquere. Vult enim auferre eum adversarius, vult te abducere, quia invidet spei tuae, invidet muneri. 14. Sed tu, quicumque in clero es domini portio eius et possessio, noli recedere de domini possessione, ut dicas domino: Possedisti renes meos, suscepisti me ex utero matris meae et ille tibi quasi bono servo dicat: Transi, recumbe! Valete filii et servite domino, quia bonus dominus!

(ed. Faller 1968: 123-127; summary M. Szada)

XVI (Maur. 76)

Ambrose to his clergy.

1. Men's minds are frequently tempted to abandon their duty when they take offense lightly at things which do not fit in with their personal desires. I can tolerate this state in other classes of men, but it causes me great sorrow when it is found in those who are dedicated to the service of God.

2. In the ranks of the clergy there are some aggrieved in this way, into whom the Devil, being unable to find entrance otherwise, wishes to make his way and instill thoughts of this sort: "What advantage is there for me to remain among the clergy, bear injuries, and endure hardships, as if my farm could not support me, or, lacking that, as if I could not get support some other way?" By thoughts like these [men of] good dispositions fail their duty, as though the only requirement for a cleric were to provide for his support, and not rather to win for himself the help of God after death. Yet, only that man will be rich after death who on earth has been able to contend unharmed against the wiles of his numerous enemies.

Ambrose quotes Eccl 4: 9-10 to prove that every cleric should live in a close relationship with Jesus which would be for him the source of dedication and perseverance.

13. No one should say: Our portion is not in Jacob, nor our inheritance in Israel nor I am not in the lots, for it is "Give to Levi his lots." [Deut 33: 8] David said that one who rests among the lots flies aloft on wings of the spirit [cf. Ps 67: 14] Do not say of your God: "He is grievous to me," [Wisd 2:15] nor of your position: "lt is useless to me," for it is written: "Leave not thy place." [Eccl 10:4] The Devil wishes to take it from you, he wishes to carry you away, for he is jealous of your hope and jealous of your task. 14. But you who are in the lot of the Lord, His portion and possession, do not let go the Lord, so that you may say to Him: "You have possessed my reins, you have received me from my mother's womb," [Ps 138: 13] and He will say to you as a good servant: "Come and recline at table." [Luke 17: 17] Farewell, sons, and serve the Lord because the Lord is good.

(trans. Beyenka 1954: 317-320; in the translation Letter 85)

Discussion:

The present letter is not dated and it can only be said that it was written at some point during the episcopacy of Ambrose. It is not explicitely stated that the addressees of the letter are clerics from Milan but it is most probable that Ambrose directs his exhortation to his own clergy.

Place of event:

Region

Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia

City

Milan

About the source:

Author: Ambrose of Milan
Title: Letters, Epistulae
Origin: Milan (Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Ambrose was a bishop of Milan from 374 until his death in 397. We have a collection of his letters organized in three parts. The first one consists of 77 letters organized in ten books most probably by Ambrose himself. He published his letters at some point after the death of Theodosius in 395. From this collection, Book 4 is missing, as are some letters of Books 2 and 4. The second part is the group of letters that survived outside the collection (extra collectionem), and the third is a group of letters concerning the council of Aquileia in 381 (together with the acts of this council). For a detailed discussion on the letters and further reading see Liebeschuetz 2010: 27–48 and Nauroy 2016: 146–160.

Edition:

O. Faller ed., Epistulae et acta, epistularum libri I-VI, Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Lationorum 82/1, Wien 1968

Translation:

Saint Ambrose, Letters, trans. M. M. Beyenka, Washington D.C. 1954

Bibliography:

J.H.W.G. Liebeschuetz, Ambrose of Milan: political letters and speeches, Liverpool 2010.

G. Nauroy, "The Letter Collection of Ambrose of Milan", [in:] Late Antique Letter Collections: A Critical Introduction and Reference Guide, ed. C. Sogno, B.K. Storin, E.J. Watts, Oakland, CA 2016, 146–160.

G. Nauroy, "Édition et organisation du recueil des lettres d’Ambroise de Milan: une architecture cachée ou altérée?", in: La correspondance d'Ambroise de Milan, textes réunis et préparés par A. Canellis, Saint-Étienne 2012, 19-61.

A. Paredi, S. Ambrogio e la sua età, Milano 1960.

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Further ecclesiastical career - None

Further ecclesiastical career - Lay status

Economic status and activity

Theoretical considerations - On priesthood

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1873, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1873