AMIROSE, SAINT, one of the most celebrated of the ancient fathers of the church, was b. about the year 340, probably at Treves, where his father, as prefect of Gaul, was wont to reside. A. received a fortunate omen even in his cradle: a swarm of bees covered the slumbering boy; and the astonished nurse saw that the bees clustered round his mouth, without doing him any harm. His father, perhaps' remembering a similar wonder related of Plato, foreboded from this a high destiny for A. Iie received an excellent education, and went with his brother Satyrus to„ Milan, in order to follow the legal profession. He soon distinguished himself so much,'Ilitit, in 369, he was appointed, by Valeiatinian, prefect of upper Italy and Milan. In this office, his gentleness and wis dom won for him the esteem and love of the peel*, whose prosperity had been much inured by the troubles caused by Arianism. Accordingly, by both Arians and Cath olics, he was unanimously called to be bishop of Milan, in 374. A. long refused to accept this dignity, and even left the city; yet he soon returned, was baptized, as hith erto he had been only a catechumen, and was consecrated eight days afterwards. The anniversary of this event is still celebrated as a fete by the.Catholic church. As a bishop,
A. won the universal reverence of all, by his mild and gentle, though, towards wicked ness of every kind, severe and unbending character. Thus, he repulsed the emperor Theodosius himself even from the door of the church, on account of his having caused the rebellious Thessalonians to be cruelly massacred by Rufiuus, excommunicated him, and only restored him to the church after eight months of severe penance. A. d. in 397. The best edition of his works, in which he followed in many things the Greek theologi cal writers, is that published by the Benedictines (2 vols., Paris,1686-1690). The hymn, Te Deum Laudamus, is usually ascribed to A., but it is proved to have been written 100. years later. The Ambrosian ritual has also received his name, only because A. had made some changes upon it, which are retained at the present day in the Milanese church. A commentary on the epistles of Paul, which was formerly ascribed to A., was probably composed by the Roman deacon Hilarius, and is usually quoted as the com mentary of the Arnbrosiaster. A. is the patron saint of Milan, and the Ambrosian library received its name in honor of him.