St. Ambrose of Milan

Ambrose was the Roman governor of Milan, not yet baptized, when he went to calm a riot over the election of a bishop. A child cried out, “Ambrose for bishop!” and the crowd took it up. Within a week he was baptized and consecrated. He gave his wealth to the poor, wrote hymns still sung in the West, stood up to the emperors, and made the emperor Theodosius do public penance for a massacre. His preaching brought St. Augustine to baptism.

• Feast: December 7 (New Calendar)
• Lived: c. 340–397
• Place: Milan