St. Ambrose was an Italian Dominican teacher, missionary and diplomat, born in a noble family in Siena on 16 April 1220. By birth itself the baby’s head was abnormally large at birth and the limbs were weak. One day the relatives brought the baby to the church and presented him to God. Then miraculously the limbs moved.
When the child grew up, he displayed extraordinary godliness and thirst for knowledge. After completing his education, at the age of seventeen, he became a member of the Evangelical Missionary Society. Authorities sent Ambrose to a college in Cologne. He soon became proficient in philosophy and Christian philosophy. Many scholars at the time approached Ambrose for theological superficialities.
Wherever the friendship between human beings was broken, Ambrose ran with the message of reconciliation. Historians record that the face glowed with divine light in any adverse conditions.
Pope Gregory X wanted to appoint Ambrose as bishop, but he humbly resigned. He lived a busy life until the end and did not even have enough time to sleep. While preaching in a church during the Lent of 1286, one of his nerves ruptured and he was exhausted from bleeding, but he did not retreat from his work. But his days were numbered. The saint died at the age of sixty-six. His name was inserted in Roman Martyrology in 1577. His biographers exhibit his life as one of perfect humility. He loved poetry and many legends are told of victories over carnal temptations. He was a renowned preacher. His oratory was simple and elegant. It was most convincing and effective.