Who Was Ambrose?

Ambrose’s biography has been retold many times since the fifth century AD, filled especially with tales of his exploits and confrontations with emperors and heretics. Such stories are indeed great fodder for drama. Although his life has been reduced to these few spectacular moments, most of it was spent in service to his community in Milan, not only his flock but also all of those in need. Born around 340 AD to a high-ranking Roman governor in Trier, raised and educated in Rome, Ambrose embarked on a career that eventually led to his role as bishop of Milan in 374 AD. Until his death on April 4, 397 AD, Ambrose used his lofty Roman social status, and the wealth and education that came with it, in the pastoral care of his congregation, the city of Milan, and even in some ways the Roman Empire.

The Academy for the Study of Saint Ambrose of Milan (ASSAM) at St. Ambrose University celebrates Ambrose’s education in the liberal arts, commitment to social justice, promotion of virtue, drive for community, and pursuit of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. For more on Ambrose, please see the primer and videos (coming soon) below. For more on ASSAM, see the About Us tab.