Fr James and the Saints:
Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Many years ago, the priests and people of the region had gathered the local basilica. Their diocese had been held in the grasp of a usurping bishop of the Arian heresy for the past twenty years and now, upon his death, the local church had a chance to find a new shepherd, a bishop who would lead them with wisdom and charity, by word and example, to the pastures of right and fruitful faith. (At that time, it was not uncommon for the local bishop to be elected by the local populous, pending the subsequent approval of the nearby bishops, sometimes the emperor, and often the pope) The atmosphere was tense, waiting for a spark that might lead to violence, and factions were preparing to advocate their chosen men.
In the midst of this gathering, the emperor-appointed governor of the region got up to speak, to call the people to peace and civility, and someone shouted out of the crowd, “Make him bishop!” The cry was quickly taken up by the rest of the people and clergy, unanimously demanding that this unbaptized, but virtuous and honorable official would be made their next bishop. Much to the man’s chagrin, even the emperor joined his voice to the crowd’s. In humility, the man assented: he finished the catechumenate, was baptized, confirmed, ordained, sold all his earthly goods, gave the proceeds to the poor, and embarked upon an absurdly adventurous episcopal ministry through which he would call the greatest and the least of the world to the salvation which Christ has prepared for us. This man, St. Ambrose of Milan, one of the greatest bishops of the Early Church and whose feast we celebrate today, became a powerful instrument of God’s grace in a chaotic world, because he listened to the call, recognized it as God’s, and answered with his whole heart.
God calls us each. That call might consist in ways of life such as the vocations of marriage, the priesthood, or the religious and consecrated lives. That call might be towards something right here and right now: to act, to speak, to pray for someone, a friend or a stranger. That call might come to us in any manner of ways: in the silence of the heart moved slowly, in the quiet of prayer and the study of the Word of God, through the grace of the sacraments, in the comment of a colleague, or perhaps the shouting of a basilica full of 4th century Christians. Whenever, however, or whatever the call from God might be, are we listening?
For more on Saint Ambrose click here