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ER 1911

Bishop Ambrose of Milan (Italy) thanks Siricius, bishop of Rome, for his letter brought to Milan by the presbyter Syrus. He praises the presbyters and deacons who like Syrus diligently perform their duties. Ambrose of Milan, Letter 46 (Maur. 85), written in Milan, AD 384/397.

XLVI (Maur. 85)

Ambrosius Siricio.

1. Gratum est mihi, cum litteras accipio tuas. At cum de conservitio nostro aliquos dirigis, ut fratrem nostrum et conpresbyterum Syrum tuis es prosecutus litteris, geminatur laetitia. Sed utinam fructus fuisset iste diuturnior! Nam statim ut venit, recurrendum putavit; quod quidem ad desiderium meum plurimum minuit, ad sui gratiam multum addidit.

2. Nam ego diligo eos vel presbyteros vel diaconos, qui cum aliquo processerit, nequaquam se patiuntur a suo diutius abesse munere; dicit enim propheta: "Non laboravi sequens post te." [Jer 17: 16] Quis autem potest laborare sequens Iesum, cum ipse dicat: "Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego vos reficiam"? [Matt 11:28]

Sequamur ergo Iesum semper nec desinamus! Quodsi semper sequamur, numquam deficimus; dat enim vires sequentibus se. Itaque quo propior virtuti fueris, eo fortior eris.

3. Plerumque, cum sequimur, dicitur nobis ab adversariis: "Ubi est verbum domini? veniat!" [Jer 17:15] Sed nos non fatigemur sequendo, non avertamur subdolae interrogationis impedimento. Dicebatur hoc prophetae cum mitteretur in carcerem, cum demergeretur in voraginem luti: "Ubi est verbum domini? veniat!" Sed ille multo magis secutus est et ideo ad bravium pervenit, ideo accepit coronam, quia non laboravit qui sequebatur Iesum. "Non" est enim "labor in Iacob nec dolor videbitur in Israhel" [Numb 23:21].

Vale et nos dilige, quia et nos amantem nostri et parentem diligimus.

(ed. Zelzer 1990: 45-47; summary M. Szada)

XLVI (Maur. 85)

Ambrose to Siricius.

1. I am always pleased to receive a letter from you. But when you delegate those of our fellow servants and entrust letters to our brother and fellow presbyter Syrus, my joy is redoubled. Would that the pleasure had been longer-lasting! As soon as he came he decided he must return. This then made my regret less and increased my esteem for him.

2. I dearly love those presbyters and deacons who, once they have finished a duty, do not allow themselves to remain away any

longer. As the Prophet says: "I am not weary, following thee" [Jer 17: 16] Who can be weary following Jesus, for He Himself says: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." [Matt 11: 28]

Let us, then, always follow Jesus and never falter, for if we follow Him we never fail, because He gives His strength to His followers. The nearer you are to this strength, the stronger you will be.

4. Sometimes, while we follow Him, our adversaries say to us: "Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come." [Jer 17:15] Let us not grow weary of following Him and let us not be turned aside by meeting with a crafty question. It was said to the Prophet when he was being sent to prison and cast into a pit of mire: "Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come." But he followed it the more and therefore reached the goal and received the crown, because he was not weary following Jesus: "There is no weariness in Jacob nor will sorrow be seen in Israel." [Numb 23:21]

Farewell, and love us, for we love as a parent one who loves us.

(trans. Beyenka 1954: 151; in the translation Letter 30)

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 in Milan and Siricius in Rome (i.e. between 384 and 397). The letter of Siricius sent to Ambrose is not extant.

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:

M. Zelzer ed., Epistulae et acta, epistularum libri VII-VIIII, Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Lationorum 82/2, Wien 1990

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 (1979), 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:

Travel and change of residence

PR672.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR672.

Ecclesiastical administration - Ecclesiastical envoy

PR672.

Reverenced by

PR672.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR672.

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, ER1911, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1911