The Presbyters Project

XXII (Maur. 35)

Ambrosius Orontiano.

1. Superior epistula tuae inquisitioni respondit; haec maea responsionis portio est, quae non solvat, sed inpleat superiorem. Nam dum ulteriora recenseo, movit me, fateor, quia addidit: "Scimus enim quod omnis creatura congemescit", cum in priore capitulo sine adiectione dixerit quia "creatura vanitati subiecta est"; non enim omnem creaturam, sed creaturam subiectam dixit. Et iterum ait: "Quoniam et ipsa creatura liberabitur a servitute corruptionis". Tertio autem addidit quod "omnis creatura congemescat".

In what follows, Ambrose continues his theological and exegetical commentary.

(ed. Faller 1968: 159-167)

XXII (Maur. 35)

Ambrose to Orontianus.

1. My last letter answered your inquiry; this letter is a part of my answer which will not destroy but will fulfill the former. For, while I considered the matter further, I was disturbed, I admit, because he [Paul] added: "For we know that all creation groans," although in earlier verse he had said without any addition: "For creation was made subject to vanity." He said not that "every creature" but "creation" has been made subject. And again, he says: "Since creation itself will be delivered from its slavery to corruption." And, in the third place, he adds: "every creature groans". [Rom 8: 20-22].

In what follows, Ambrose continues his theological and exegetical commentary.

(trans. Beyenka 1954: 277-283; in the translation Letter 52)

Discussion:

The present letter, a continuation of Letter 21 [1881], is not dated. It can be said only that it was written at some point during the episcopacy of Ambrose. 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.

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

PR851.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR851.

Education - Theological interest

PR851.

Devotion - Reading the Bible and devotional literature

PR851.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1906, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1906