Roman Breviary, 1954 (Divino Afflatu)

Monday, 7 December 2026

S. Ambrosii Episcopi Confessoris et Ecclesiæ DoctorisSt. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Duplex

Commemoratio: Feria II infra Hebdomadam II Adventus

Commemoration: Monday of the Second Week of Advent

Lectio I

Lesson I

De Isaía Prophéta

Lesson from the book of Isaias

Isa 13:1-4

Onus Babylónis, quod vidit Isaías fílius Amos. Super montem caliginósum leváte signum, exaltáte vocem, leváte manum, et ingrediántur portas duces. Ego mandávi sanctificátis meis, et vocávi fortes meos in ira mea, exsultántes in glória mea. Vox multitúdinis in móntibus, quasi populórum frequéntium: vox sónitus regum, géntium congregatárum.

The burden of Babylon, which Isaias the son of Amos saw. Upon the dark mountain lift ye up a banner, exalt the voice, lift up the hand, and let the rulers go into the gates. I have commanded my sanctified ones, and have called my strong ones in my wrath, them that rejoice in my glory. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as it were of many people, the noise of the sound of kings, of nations gathered together.

℟. Súscipe verbum, Virgo María, quod tibi a Dómino per Angelum transmíssum est: concípies et páries Deum páriter et hóminem, * Ut benedícta dicáris inter omnes mulíeres.

℟. Receive, O Virgin Mary, receive the word of the Lord, which is sent thee by His Angel; thou shalt conceive, and shalt bring forth God and Man together. * And thou shalt be called blessed among all women.

℣. Páries quidem fílium, et virginitátis non patiéris detriméntum: efficiéris grávida, et eris mater semper intácta.

℣. Thou shalt bring forth a son, and remain a maiden undefiled thou shalt conceive and be a Mother, still Virgin unspotted.

℟. Ut benedícta dicáris inter omnes mulíeres.

℟. And thou shalt be called blessed among all women.

Lectio II

Lesson II

Isa 13:4-8

Dóminus exercítuum præcépit milítiæ belli, Veniéntibus de terra procul a summitáte cæli: Dóminus, et vasa furóris ejus, ut dispérdat omnem terram. Ululáte, quia prope est dies Dómini: quasi vástitas a Dómino véniet. Propter hoc omnes manus dissolvéntur, et omne cor hóminis contabéscet, Et conterétur. Torsiónes et dolóres tenébunt; quasi partúriens dolébunt: unusquísque ad próximum suum stupébit, fácies combústæ vultus eórum.

The Lord of hosts hath given charge to the troops of war. To them that come from a country afar off, from the end of heaven: the Lord and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is near: it shall come as a destruction from the Lord. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every heart of man shall melt, And shall be broken. Gripings and pains shall take hold of them, they shall be in pain as a woman in labour. Every one shall be amazed at his neighbour, their countenances shall be as faces burnt.

℟. Læténtur cæli, et exsúltet terra, jubiláte, montes, laudem: quia Dóminus noster véniet, * Et páuperum suórum miserébitur.

℟. Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains, for our Lord will come; * And will have mercy on His afflicted.

℣. Oriétur in diébus ejus justítia, et abundántia pacis.

℣. In His days shall righteousness flourish and abundance of peace.

℟. Et páuperum suórum miserébitur.

℟. And will have mercy upon His afflicted.

Lectio III

Lesson III

Isa 13:9-11

Ecce dies Dómini véniet, crudélis, et indignatiónis plenus, et iræ furorísque, ad ponéndam terram in solitúdinem, et peccatóres ejus conteréndos de ea. Quóniam stellæ cæli, et splendor eárum, non expándent lumen suum: obtenebrátus est sol in ortu suo, et luna non splendébit in lúmine suo. Et visitábo super orbis mala, et contra ímpios iniquitátem eórum, et quiéscere fáciam supérbiam infidélium, et arrogántiam fórtium humiliábo.

Behold, the day of the Lord shall come, a cruel day, and full of indignation, and of wrath, and fury, to lay the land desolate, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven, and their brightness shall not display their light: the sun shall be darkened in his rising, and the moon shall not shine with her light. And I will visit the evils of the world, and against the wicked for their iniquity: and I will make the pride of infidels to cease, and will bring down the arrogancy of the mighty.

℟. Aliéni non transíbunt per Jerúsalem ámplius: * Nam in illa die stillábunt montes dulcédinem, et colles fluent lac et mel, dicit Dóminus.

℟. There shall no strangers pass through Jerusalem any more * For in that day the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk and honey, saith the Lord.

℣. Deus a Líbano véniet, et Sanctus de monte umbróso et condénso.

℣. God shall come from Lebanon, and the Holy One from the thick and shady mountain.

℟. Nam in illa die stillábunt montes dulcédinem, et colles fluent lac et mel, dicit Dóminus.

℟. For in that day the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk and honey, saith the Lord.

℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

℟. Nam in illa die stillábunt montes dulcédinem, et colles fluent lac et mel, dicit Dóminus.

℟. For in that day the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk and honey, saith the Lord.

Lectio IV

Lesson IV

Ambrósius epíscopus Mediolanénsis, Ambrósii civis Románi fílius, patre Gálliæ præfécto natus est. In hujus infántis ore exámen apum consedísse dícitur: quæ res divínam viri eloquéntiam præmonstrábat. Romæ liberálibus disciplínis erudítus est. Post a Probo præfécto Ligúriæ et Æmíliæ præpósitus: unde póstea, ejúsdem Probi jussu, cum potestáte Mediolánum venit; ubi, mórtuo Auxéntio Ariáno epíscopo, pópulus de successóre deligéndo dissidébat. Quare Ambrósius, pro offícii sui múnere ecclésiam ingréssus, ut commótam seditiónem sedáret, cum multa de quiéte et tranquillitáte reipúblicæ præcláre dixísset, derepénte púero Ambrósium epíscopum exclamánte, univérsi pópuli vox erúpit, Ambrósium epíscopum deposcéntis.

Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was the son of another Ambrose, a Roman citizen, and was born when his father was Prefect of Gaul, (about the year of our Lord 340.) A swarm of bees settled upon his face when he was in his cradle, which was considered an omen of his future eloquence. He received a liberal education at Rome. He was afterwards, under the Prefect Probus, made governor of Liguria and Emilia, and so came with authority to Milan. Auxentius, an Arian, who had been intruded into the Bishopric of Milan, happening to die, the most violent disputes arose about the choice of a successor. Ambrose came to the church in his official capacity, and urged upon the contending factions, in a long and powerful speech, the necessity of keeping the public peace; whereupon a child suddenly cried out, Ambrose, Bishop, and the whole assembly took it up, and unanimously called for his election.

℟. Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum: * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

℟. I have found David My servant, with My holy oil have I anointed him * For My hand shall help him.

℣. Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei.

℣. The enemy shall prevail nothing against him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

℟. Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

℟. For My hand shall help him.

Lectio V

Lesson V

Recusánte illo et eórum précibus resisténte, ardens pópuli stúdium ad Valentiniánum imperatórem delátum est; cui gratíssimum fuit, a se deléctos júdices ad sacerdótium postulári. Fuit id étiam Probo præfécto jucúndum, qui Ambrósio proficiscénti quasi divínans díxerat: Vade, age, non ut judex, sed ut epíscopus. Itaque cum ad pópuli desidérium imperatóris volúntas accéderet, Ambrósius baptizátus (erat enim catechúmenus) sacrísque initiátus, ac servátis ómnibus ex institúto Ecclésiæ órdinum grádibus, octávo die, qui fuit séptimo Idus Decémbris, episcopále onus suscépit. Factus epíscopus, cathólicam fidem et disciplínam ecclesiásticam acérrime deféndit; multósque Ariános, et álios hæréticos ad fídei veritátem convértit, in quibus claríssimum Ecclésiæ lumen sanctum Augustínum Jesu Christo péperit.

Ambrose refused, and would not yield to their prayers, whereupon they carried their petition to the Emperor Valentinian. It was very pleasing to this Prince that those he had appointed as judges should be chosen Bishops, as also to the Prefect Probus, who had, as it were prophetically, said to him when he appointed him, Go and govern them more like a Bishop than a Judge. When the will of the Emperor was added to the desire of the people, Ambrose yielded, and received Baptism, (for hitherto he was only a Catechumen,) Confirmation, and Communion, and then the several Orders on successive days, till on the eighth day, which was the 7th of December, (in the year 374,) the weight of the Episcopate was laid upon his shoulders. Being made Bishop, he showed himself a stout upholder of the Catholic faith, and the discipline of the Church, and turned to the truth great numbers of Arians and other heretics, and, among them, he begat in Christ Jesus that burning and shining light of the Church, Augustine.

℟. Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea: * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

℟. I have laid help upon one that is mighty, and have exalted one chosen out of My people * For My hand shall help him.

℣. Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum.

℣. I have found David My servant, with My holy oil have I anointed him.

℟. Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

℟. For My hand shall help him.

Lectio VI

Lesson VI

Gratiáno imperatóre occíso, ad Máximum ejus interfectórem legátus íterum proféctus est; eóque pœniténtiam ágere recusánte, se ab ejus communióne semóvit. Theodósium imperatórem, propter cædem Thessalonícæ factam, ingréssu ecclésiæ prohíbuit. Cui, cum ille David quoque regem adúlterum et homicídam fuísse dixísset, respóndit Ambrósius: Qui secútus es errántem, séquere pœniténtem. Quare Theodósius sibi ab eo impósitam públicam pœniténtiam humíliter egit. Ergo sanctus epíscopus pro Ecclésia Dei máximis labóribus curísque perfúnctus, multis libris étiam egrégie conscrípsit, ántequam in morbum incíderet, mortis suæ diem prædíxit. Ad quem ægrótum Honorátus Vercellénsis epíscopus, Dei voce ter admónitus, accúrrit, eíque sanctum Dómini corpus prǽbuit: quo ille sumpto, conformátis in crucis similitúdinem mánibus, orans, ánimam Deo réddidit prídie Nonas Aprílis, anno post Christum natum trecentésimo nonagésimo séptimo.

After the murder of the Emperor Gratian, (in 383,) Ambrose was sent as an ambassador to Maximus, by whom he had been slain, and, as he refused to repent, the Bishop renounced his communion. After the massacre which the Emperor Theodosius had commanded at Thessalonica, (in 390,) he refused to permit that Prince to enter a church. The Emperor pleaded that he was no worse than David, who had been guilty of adultery and murder, to which Ambrose answered him, As thou hast followed him in his sin, follow him also in his repentance. Then Theodosius humbly did public penance laid upon him by the Bishop. At length the Saint was worn out with his continual labour and care for the Church, (for the which also he composed many excellent books,) and foretold that the day of his death was at hand, though he had not then fallen into his last sickness. As he lay dying, Honoratus, Bishop of Vercelli, heard a voice from God three times crying to him that the hour of Ambrose's departure was come, whereupon he went to him quickly, and gave him the sacred Body of our Lord. When he had received It, the Saint, still praying, with his hands stretched out in the form of a cross, gave his spirit to God, upon the 4th day of April, in the year of Christ, 397.

℟. Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est: * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.

℟. This is he which wrought great wonders before God, and the whole earth is full of his teaching * May he pray for all people, that their sins may be forgiven unto them

℣. Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.

℣. This is he which loved not his life in this world, and hath attained unto the kingdom of heaven.

℟. Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.

℟. May he pray for all people, that their sins may be forgiven unto them

℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

℟. Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.

℟. May he pray for all people, that their sins may be forgiven unto them

Lectio VII

Lesson VII

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Matt 5:13-19

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis: Vos estis sal terræ. Quod si sal evanúerit, in quo saliétur? Et réliqua.

At that time: Jesus said unto his disciples: Ye are the salt of the earth: But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? And so on, and that which followeth.

Homilía sancti Augustíni Epíscopi

A Homily by St. Augustine the Bishop

Lib. 1 de Sermone Domini in monte, cap. 6

Lib. 1 de Sermóne Dómini in monte, cap. 6

Osténdit Dóminus fátuos esse judicándos, qui temporálium bonórum vel cópiam sectántes vel inópiam metuéntes, amíttunt ætérna, quæ nec dari possunt ab homínibus nec auférri. Itaque, si sal infatuátum fúerit, in quo saliétur? Id est, si vos, per quos condiéndi sunt quodámmodo pópuli, metu persecutiónum temporálium amiséritis regna cælórum; qui erunt hómines, per quos a vobis error auferátur, cum vos elégerit Deus, per quos errórem áuferat ceterórum?

The Lord would have us understand how that men do lose their power of savouring others with righteousness when they are willing to place their eternal welfare in jeopardy for the sake of any témporal advantage, like as attainment of ease or luxury, or escape from suffering or toil. For that which is eternal, unlike things of this world, can neither be bestowed by men, nor by them taken away. Hence, when he asketh: If the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? he would have us understand the question to be: If ye, by whom mankind is preserved from corruption, be willing to lose the kingdom of heaven so as to escape trials or persecutions in this world, who is there to preserve you from corruption, seeing ye are they that God hath chosen to preserve all others from corruption?

℟. Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum: stolam glóriæ índuit eum, * Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.

℟. The Lord loved him and beautified him He clothed him with a robe of glory * And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.

℣. Induit eum Dóminus lorícam fídei, et ornávit eum.

℣. The Lord hath put on him the breast-plate of faith, and hath adorned him.

℟. Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.

℟. And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.

Lectio VIII

Lesson VIII

Ergo ad níhilum valet sal infatuátum, nisi ut mittátur foras et calcétur ab homínibus. Non ítaque calcátur ab homínibus qui pátitur persecutiónem; sed qui, persecutiónem timéndo, infatuátur. Calcári enim non potest nisi inférior; sed inférior non est, qui, quamvis córpore multa in terra sustíneat, corde tamen fixus in cælo est.

Those that should be the salt of the earth, but have lost their savour, are thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. But no one that suffereth persecution is truly said to be trodden under foot of men. Rather, that one is truly trodden under foot of men who through fear of persecution hath lost the savour of righteousness. For no one can be trodden upon, unless he be beneath him which treadeth upon him. And certainly no one who hath his heart in heaven, no matter how grievously he doth suffer in his body on earth, is rightly said to be beneath anyone who misuseth him.

℟. In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os ejus, * Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.

℟. In the midst of the congregation did the Lord open his mouth. * And filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding.

℣. Jucunditátem et exsultatiónem thesaurizávit super eum.

℣. He made him rich with joy and gladness.

℟. Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.

℟. And filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding.

℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

℟. Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.

℟. And filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding.

Lectio IX

Lesson IX

Vos estis lumen mundi. Quómodo dixit supérius sal terræ, sic nunc dicit lumen mundi. Nam, neque supérius ista terra accipiénda est, quam pédibus corpóreis calcámus; sed hómines, qui in terra hábitant, vel étiam peccatóres, quorum condiéndis et exstinguéndis putóribus apostólicum salem Dóminus misit. Et hic mundum non cælum et terram, sed hómines qui sunt in mundo vel díligunt mundum, opórtet intélligi; quibus illuminándis Apóstoli missi sunt. Non potest cívitas abscóndi super montem pósita; id est, fundáta super insígnem magnámque justítiam, quam signíficat étiam ipse mons, in quo dísputat Dóminus.

Ye are the light of the world. And we are to understand the word World in the same sense as the word Earth when he spoke above of the salt of the earth, that is, not that earth whereupon we walk with our bodily feet, but the men which dwell upon the earth; in other words, sinners, for the sweetening and correction of whose corruption, the Lord hath sent his Apostles, as it were, as so much salt. And so by the world we are to understand, not the heaven and the earth, but the men who are in the world and love the world, for the enlightening of whom the Apostles have been sent. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid: that is, what is founded upon the heights of righteousness, whereof the mountain upon which the Lord gave this discourse was itself a figure, is magnificent in the eyes of all men.

Te Deum