Related Articles
Introduction: A Church Father Who Still Speaks Today
Amid the hustle and bustle of the modern world, where spirituality risks becoming shallow, looking back to the origins can be the most revolutionary and renewing act. Saint Ambrose of Milan (†397), one of the great Fathers of the Latin Church, was not only a courageous and wise bishop but also a true master of Christian initiation. His work De Sacramentis is not just another treatise: it is a hidden gem that holds the DNA of Catholic liturgy. In his words beats the life of a young, vibrant, and deeply Eucharistic Church.
This article aims to be a doorway: to history, to the heart of sacramental theology, and to a more conscious way of living what we celebrate every Sunday at Mass. Because understanding our liturgical roots is not just an academic curiosity—it is a vital necessity for rediscovering the beauty and transformative power of the sacraments.
1. Who Was Saint Ambrose?
Saint Ambrose was born into a Roman Christian family around the year 340 in Trier (modern-day Germany) and was educated in Rome. As governor of Liguria and Emilia, his fate changed radically when he was elected bishop of Milan in 374, even though he was still a catechumen. This providential turn made him one of the most influential figures in Western Christianity.
Ambrose was a pastor, theologian, liturgist, and poet. He wrote homilies, moral treatises, letters, and biblical commentaries. His pastoral style, centered on adult catechesis—especially in preparation for Baptism—left an indelible mark. He was also the mentor of Saint Augustine, helping him in his conversion and eventually baptizing him.
2. De Sacramentis: A Mirror of Ancient Liturgy
The work De Sacramentis, written in the form of post-baptismal catechesis, offers a unique window into how the sacraments were lived in the 4th century. It is not a systematic treatise but a living, pastoral meditation deeply rooted in experience.
What does it contain?
- Explanation of the rites of Baptism, Confirmation (Chrism), and the Eucharist.
- Commentary on the symbolism of water, oil, laying on of hands, bread, and wine.
- Connection between the sacraments and the paschal mystery of Christ.
For Ambrose, the sacraments are not merely external signs but transformative realities: “You saw water, but you also saw its effect… You saw what is visible, but you understood the invisible.” (De Sacramentis 1,4)
3. Deep Theology, Accessible Language
Saint Ambrose uses accessible, catechetical language that speaks directly to the heart. He does not merely explain the what of the sacraments but the why and the for what purpose. He constantly draws from Sacred Scripture, liturgy, Old Testament typology, and a deeply incarnational Christology.
Let’s examine some key theological aspects that still enlighten us today:
a. Christ Acts in the Sacraments
Ambrose strongly affirms that it is Christ Himself who baptizes, anoints, and consecrates. The human minister is an instrument: “It is the Lord Jesus who said: ‘This is my body’” (cf. De Sacramentis 4,14).
👉 This calls us to an attitude of reverence and faith: we do not attend empty rituals but encounters with the living Christ.
b. The Eucharist is True Presence
Ambrose boldly proclaims faith in transubstantiation before the term even existed: “This bread is bread before the sacramental words; when the words are added, it becomes the body of Christ” (De Sacramentis 4,4).
👉 A call to renew our Eucharistic faith, to live the Mass with awe and gratitude.
c. Symbolism as Pedagogy
Every gesture, word, and element in the liturgy has meaning: water cleanses, chrism consecrates, bread nourishes, wine gladdens. Nothing is superfluous. Everything points to inner transformation.
👉 Our participation must not be mechanical but conscious. The more we understand, the more we live.
4. An Urgent Lesson for the Church Today
In times when people discuss the “boredom” of Mass or seek new forms of celebration, Ambrose reminds us that liturgical renewal does not begin by changing the form, but by rediscovering the essence.
It is not about making Mass more “entertaining” but helping the faithful rediscover its mystical depth.
As Pope Benedict XVI said:
“Liturgy is not, in the first place, something we do. It is God’s action in us and with us.”
(Sacramentum Caritatis, 37)
Saint Ambrose urges us not to reduce the sacraments to social customs or empty rituals but to live them as radical experiences of the paschal mystery.
5. Practical Applications: Living the Spirit of De Sacramentis Today
a. Rediscover Your Baptism
- Meditate daily on your identity as a child of God: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14).
- Remember your baptismal date and celebrate it.
- Bless yourself with holy water consciously when entering church, not out of habit.
b. Renew Your Relationship with the Eucharist
- Arrive early to Mass. Pray in advance. Prepare yourself inwardly.
- Read the readings beforehand. Meditate on the Gospel.
- Approach the altar with faith and reverence, knowing you receive Christ Himself.
- Spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration each week.
c. Participate Actively, Not Passively
- Respond, sing, pray. Liturgy is not a performance. It is dialogue with God.
- Get involved in liturgical service (reader, choir, minister, sacristan…).
- Help children understand what they see. Be a guide, not a spectator.
d. Form Your Liturgical Consciousness
- Read the Catechism (especially paragraphs 1066–1209).
- Join liturgical formation groups at your parish.
- Learn the symbols, signs, and gestures of the Mass: each one is a path to God.
6. Conclusion: Returning to the Heart
Saint Ambrose was not a reformer or an innovator. He was a witness. His work offers not novelty but fidelity to what the Church has believed and celebrated since the Apostles. De Sacramentis is not a dead book: it is an echo of the Spirit still breathing at every altar in the world.
Today, when the world desperately needs to reconnect with the sacred, the liturgy offers us a treasure. We must not be content to merely attend Mass but allow ourselves to be transformed by it, like the neophytes whom Ambrose instructed.
Christ still acts. The altar still burns. The baptismal font remains open.
“Lift up your heart. If you believe, you have received forgiveness. Believe that your sins have been forgiven. This was not done by man, but by God.”
(De Sacramentis, 1,31)
Final Spiritual and Pastoral Guide: What Can I Do This Week?
✅ Monday: Pray in thanksgiving for your Baptism. Look for a photo or record of that day.
✅ Tuesday: Read Romans 6:3–11 and meditate on your death and resurrection with Christ.
✅ Wednesday: Attend or schedule an hour of Eucharistic Adoration.
✅ Thursday: Read the Catechism §§1322–1419 on the Eucharist.
✅ Friday: Make a small fast and offer it for liturgical renewal.
✅ Saturday: Lovingly prepare your participation in Sunday Mass.
✅ Sunday: Live the Mass like Ambrose: with awe, faith, and gratitude.
Saint Ambrose, wise shepherd and master of the mysteries,
teach us to rediscover the hidden treasure of the liturgy.
May we celebrate with faith what we believe,
and live with love what we celebrate. Amen.
