The way to make a saint by the B. Jacopo da Voragine among the saints is that James put in his Legenda Aurea, which he calls for humility Legends of Holies, which is dedicated to St. Ambrose is the Collegiate Church of Sant'Ambrogio di Varazze . The Legend system, the feast of the saint (this at least for the most reliable manuscript critically, as shown by the Mazzoni), not between the feast of Saint Nicholas and Santa Lucia, but much later, after Easter. We read a summary of what James writes.
The saint was a child when a swarm of bees entered his mouth. Quandogli came out went to heaven, and was never seen again. His father, also named Ambrose, he said that if someone died as a child would become. The young Ambrose, seeing that her mother and sister kissed the hands of the priests, he asked his sister, who's kissed his hand, saying that now he did it for fun, but once they would really kissed her hand. Having studied literature in Rome, was so skilled that the Emperor Valentinian sent him to govern the Liguria and Emilia. He arrived at Milan and there was no bishop, and people fight because there were Catholics and Arians. The crowd heard a guy who said he was elected Bishop Ambrose. The idea was accepted. But Ambrose did not want, He went to court where, against his custom, was very severe. The people did not give up, went to his house and he brought prostitutes to shock the people. The people did not change his mind and said that the sins of Ambrose would have taken them. Then he tried to reach the Ticino. Wrong road and found himself Nilano. The emperor, who had told him that the mandate was to deal with people not as a judge but as a bishop, he was very happy with the decision of the Milanese. So Ambrose, who was still a catechumen, although once again attempted to escape, was baptized and ordained a bishop after eight days. When, after four years, returned to Rome, her sister kissed her hand and reminded her that Ambrose had said a young man.
In a nearby town had to elect a bishop. The Emperor Justinian wanted an Aryan, a Catholic Ambrose. While he was at church sitting on a seat, a woman came up to him Aryan, trying to drag it to women who were beaten and expelled from the church. Ambrose rebuked because he had abused a priest. The next day the woman died, and Ambrose went to his burial. This attitude of charity put in a good light in front of everyone.
Back in Milan, had to endure all that was plotting against the Emperor Justinian. A man, Part of Justina, took a house near the church, prepared a chariot to kidnap and bring the bishop into exile. But before he was sent to kidnap him in exile, and Ambrose, I beg you to shoulder the maintenance. In Milan there were many demons. According to Justin and many other Aryans were people paid by Ambrose. Suddenly, an Aryan became possessed and said that Ambrose was the truth. Arians killed him. An Aryan who hated Catholics, listening to a sermon of Ambrose and saw that an angel spoke to him in his ear. He converted immediately. A sorcerer conjured demons and sent them by Ambrose. Demons tornavanoindietro for home and church of Ambrose were repaired by a barrier of fire. A man, instigated and paid for by Giustina, entered the room where he slept with a dagger Ambrose. He raised his arm to hit him: he was paralyzed. The people of Thessalonica were made of sins against the Emperor. Ambrose had convinced the Emperor to pardon. But people of the Court insisted on a punishment and the Emperor had killed many people. Ambrose heard about it and when the emperor tried in Milan, prevented him from entering the church. Then the emperor said that David was an adulterer and a murderer. Said the saint that if the Emperor had followed David in evil, should also follow him in repentance. One day, the street, Ambrose tripped and fell. One who followed him began to laugh. Ambrose said that being themselves in the foot too careful not to fall. He fell at once and began to complain. Another day we went to the palace of a magistrate, the name Macedonia to intercede for one defendant. The doors were closed. He could not enter. Ambrose said that Macedonia would be able to enter the church even if the doors were open. And so it was.
At this point James in the story, changing the subject. No more miracles, but the style of life. Ambrose was very austere. Fasted every day except Saturday and Sunday, and in large parties. He had great love. As he gave it to the churches and the poor, without anything to keep him. Humble and diligent in his own hand wrote his works, as long as health allowed him. In learning the death of a priest or a bishop cried mostly because they had preceded him and had left a void.
Roma.Arriva Ambrose is on its way, and parked in a beautiful villa. The owner tells him that his life has always been happy with a lot of money, many servants, many children and grandchildren, everything has always gone well. Then Ambrose said to his companions: "Let's go now to avoid the wrath of God." They leave, and here the house is hit, it opened a hole in it and everything disappeared. Sign of God's mercy toward those who did not, and his anger toward those who had only happiness in life. Of that abyss is said to have left their mark.
Ambrose realized that avarice grew continuously between the officials and dignitaries of the Church. He complained with her and said she would remain with them only until Easter Sunday. A few days before Easter, while dictating the commentary on Psalm 40, the writer saw the fire that rested on the face of Ambrose and entered it as you enter a house. Ambrose's face became radiant. Since that day, Ambrose does not dictated anything, and he became ill. The Count of Italy was concerned about the death of Ambrose and asked the nobles to come to him asking him to obtain a prolongation of life by God. Gone was told that he had lived among them for no reason to be ashamed, but who was not afraid to die because the Lord is good. Meanwhile, four deacons were meeting to decide who was worthy to succeed to Ambrose. Sub out of the room and place the name of Ambrose made simple. To which Ambrose very loudly said, "'old, but it is the most worthy." The deacons were left terrified and elected bishop after the death of Ambrose, just simple people. Onorato, bishop of Vercelli, waiting for news of the death of Ambrose, but tired to sleep. Suddenly he was awakened by a voice calling him to tell him that Ambrose was going to die. He went immediately from Vercelli for Milan and arrived in time to bring him Holy Communion. As he had received Ambrose stretched out his hands as the cross and died.
bring her body into the church. Many children told their parents they saw Ambrose on his seat, or while climbing to the sky, or a star on his head. A priest who was at a banquet with many others, said slander against Ambrose. Fell to the ground fulminate. So Cartagine.Erano meeting three bishops and a denigrated Ambrose. Shortly after he made the same action for which he had disparaged the saint. He did not bother about that and tragically died shortly after.
Brief comment: as you can see James does not care for themselves in miracles (the miracle had spread superstitious in those days), but for teaching the meaning they have. At the heart of the story are highlighted under Bishop Ambrose, in a time when the bishops and priests not infrequently gave a good example. It is an example of austerity and poverty. Ambrose presents the preacher as it is an angel to suggest words. It 'a warning to other bishops who preached little, although the only ones who had to do it. For this reason, moreover, had been founded the Order of Preachers or Dominicans.
between James Grasso, op
