Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1881
Bishop Ambrose of Milan (Italy) in a letter to Orontianus, presbyter in Milan, discusses the substance of the soul. Ambrose of Milan, Letter 21 (Maur. 34), written in Milan, AD 374/397.
XXI (Maur. 34)
 
Ambrosius Orontiano.
 
1. Quaesisti a me, utrum anima caelestis esse videatur substantiae. Non enim aut sanguinem aut ignem aut nervorum armoniam animam putas, ut vulgus philosophorum interpraetatur, aut, ut illa patricia quaedam eorum prosapia Platonis disputat, quod "ipsum se movet et non movetur ab alio", ipsa tibi anima videtur, vel certe, ut Aristoteles acri ingenio quintum quoddam elementi genus induxit, probasti, id est entelechian, ex quo conponeres et velut fingeres animae substantiam.
 
In what follows, Ambrose continues his theological and philosophical commentary.
 
11. [...] Vale filii et nos dilige, quia nos te diligimus!
 
(ed. Faller 1968: 153-159; summary M. Szada)
XXI (Maur. 34)
 
Ambrose to Orontianus.
  
1. You asked me whether the soul is in all likelihood a heavy substance, for you do not believe that the soul is blood or fire or a harmony of nerves, as ordinary philosophers teach. Again, it seems to you that the soul is that which moves itself and is moved by no other, for this is the teaching of the ancient line of followers of Plato. You feel at least, since Aristotle inferred with remarkable originality some sort of fifth element, that there is an element, entellechia, from which you would derive or from the substance of the soul.
 
In what follows, Ambrose continues his theological and philosophical commentary.
 
11. [...] Farewell, son, and love us, because we love you.
 
(trans. Beyenka 1954: 272-276; in the translation Letter 51)

Discussion:

For Orontianus ecclesiastical status see discussion in [1874].

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.
 
The present letter is not dated and it can only be said that it was written at some point during the episcopacy of Ambrose.
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.
J.-P. Mazières, "Les lettres d’Ambroise de Milan à Irenaeus.”, Pallas. Revue d’études antiques 26 (1973), 103–114.
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.
J.-R. Palanque, "Deux correspondants de saint Ambroise: Orontien et Irénée”, Revue des Études Latines 11 (1933), 153–163.
A. Paredi, S. Ambrogio e la sua età, Milano 1960.

Categories:

Writing activity - Correspondence
Reverenced by
Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
Education - Theological interest
Devotion - Reading the Bible and devotional literature
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1881, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1881