What did St Ambrose do in his life?

After the death of Aurelius' father, Ambrose journeyed to Rome, where he and his brother Satyrius were educated. The year 370, when he completed his course of study, Ambrose was given the position of a governor of the districts of Liguria and Aemilia, though he continued to live in Milan.

He introduced antiphonal singing into the Western Church, which became known as an “Ambrosian Chant.” He also composed twelve hymns which were used during his lifetime. The hymn, “Thee, O God, we praise” (Te Deum), attributed to Saint Ambrose, entered into the divine services of the Orthodox Church (Molieben).

Saint Ambrose, defending the unity of the Church, energetically opposed the spread of heresy. In the year 379, he traveled off to establish an Orthodox bishop at Sirmium, and in 385-386 he refused to hand over the basilica of Mediolanum to the Arians.

The preaching of Saint Ambrose in defense of Orthodoxy was deeply influential. Another noted Father of the Western Church, Saint Augustine (June 15), bore witness to this, having accepted holy Baptism in the year 387 by the grace of the preaching of the bishop of Mediolanum.

Saint Ambrose also participated in civil matters. The emperor Gracian (375-383), received from him the “Exposition of the Orthodox Faith” (De Fide), removed, by decree of the saint, the altar of Victory from the halls of the Senate at Rome, on which oaths were wont to be taken. Displaying boldness, Saint Ambrose placed a severe penance on the emperor Theodosius (379-395) for the death of innocent people of Thessalonica. For him there was no difference between emperor and commoner. He released Theodosius from the penance, the saint would not allow the emperor to converse at the altar, but allowed him to do public penance.

The fame of Bishop Ambrose and his actions attracted him to many followers from other lands.