chambers_search-1

Search Chambers

Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

Ambrose, St c.339-97AD
Italian bishop, writer and Doctor of the Church

Born in Trier, Germany, the son of the prefect of Gaul, he practised law in Rome and in AD369 was appointed consular prefect of Upper Italy. Though he was an unbaptized layman, his fairness in dealing with the Arian/Catholic controversy led to his appointment as Bishop of Milan in 374. One of the four Latin Doctors of the Church (with St Augustine, St Jerome, and Gregory I, the Great), he is remembered for his preaching, for his introduction of the use of hymns, for his literary works, and for many improvements in the service - the Ambrosian ritual and Ambrosian chant. His feast day is 7 December.

Bibliography: F Homes-Dudden, The Life and Times of St Ambrose (2 vols, 1935)