Letter XXII.
St. Ambrose in a letter to his sister gives an account
of the finding of the bodies of SS. Gervasius and Protasius, and of his
addresses to the people on that occasion. Preaching from Psalm
xix., he allegorically expounded the “heavens” to represent
the martyrs and apostles, and the “day” he takes to be
their confession. They were humbled by God, and then raised
again. He then gives an account of the state in which their
bodies were found, and of their translation to the basilica. In
another address he speaks of the joy of the Catholics and the malice of
the Arians who denied the miracles that were being wrought, as the Jews
used to do, and points out that their faith is quite different from
that of the martyrs, and that since the devils acknowledge the Trinity, and they do not, they are worse than the very devils themselves.
the lady, his sister, dearer
to him than his eyes and life, Ambrose Bishop.
1. As I do not wish anything which takes
place here in your absence to escape the knowledge of your holiness, you must know that we have found some bodies of holy martyrs. For after I had dedicated the basilica, many, as it were, with one mouth began to address me, and said: Consecrate this as you did the Roman basilica. And I answered: “Certainly I will if I find any
relics of martyrs.” And at once a
kind of prophetic ardour seemed to enter my heart.
2. Why should I use many words? God
favoured us, for even the clergy were afraid who were bidden to clear
away the earth from the spot before the chancel screen of SS. Felix and
Nabor. I found the fitting signs, and on bringing in some on whom
hands were to be laid, the power of
the holy martyrs became so manifest, that even whilst I was still
silent, one was seized and
thrown prostrate at the holy burial-place. We found two men of
marvellous stature, such as those of ancient days. All the bones
were perfect, and there was much blood. During the whole of those
two days there was an enormous concourse of people. Briefly we
arranged the whole in order, and as evening was now coming on
transferred them to the basilica of Fausta, where watch was kept during the night, and some received the laying on of hands. On the following day we translated the relics to the basilica called Ambrosian. During the translation a blind man was healed. I addressed the people then as follows:
3. When I considered the immense and unprecedented
numbers of you who are here gathered together, and the gifts of divine
grace which have shone forth in the holy martyrs, I must confess that I
felt myself unequal to this task, and that I could not express in words
what we can scarcely conceive in our minds or take in with our
eyes. But when the course of holy Scripture began to be read, the
Holy Spirit Who spake in the prophets granted me to utter something
worthy of so great a gathering, of your expectations, and of the merits
of the holy martyrs.
4. “The heavens,” it is said, “declare the glory of God.” When this Psalm is read, it occurs to one that not so much the material elements as the heavenly merits seem to offer praise worthy of God. And by the chance of this day’s lessons it is made clear what “heavens” declare the glory of God. Look at the holy relics at my right hand and at my left, see men of heavenly conversation, behold the trophies of a heavenly mind. These are the heavens which declare the glory of God, these are His handiwork which the firmament proclaims. For not worldly enticements, but the grace of the divine working, raised them to the firmament of the most sacred Passion, and long before by the testimony of their character and virtues bore witness of them, that they continued steadfast against the dangers of this world.
5. Paul was a heaven, when he said: “Our conversation is in heaven.” James and John were heavens, and then were called “sons of thunder”; and John, being as it were a heaven, saw the Word with God. The Lord Jesus Himself was a heaven of perpetual light, when He was declaring the glory of God, that glory which no man had seen before. And therefore He said: “No man hath seen God at any time, except the only-begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” If you seek for the handiwork of God, listen to Job when he says: “The Spirit of God Who hath made me.” And so strengthened against the temptations of the devil, he kept his footsteps constantly without offence. But let us go on to what follows.