BE OUR LIGHT
ST AMBROSE
Photo by Michael PAMBO O. on Unsplash
ST. AMBROSE
By Mary Olivia Patiño
St. Ambrose, known as Bishop and Doctor of the Church, is the Patron Saint of many causes.
Patron Saints: ‘Saints are acknowledged to be special protectors and intercessors for persons, churches, dioceses and the universal Church.” (OSV’s Catholic Encyclopedia, 1991; pg. 733). Some causes for which people remember St. Ambrose:
•Candles. This reminds me of the candles we light during the Season of Advent. On the First Sunday of Advent, the one and ‘first’ candle we light symbolizes ‘Hope’. Eventually, we light all four candles during the Sundays of Advent to represent Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in our spiritual journey.
At home, the light from candles calms us; or provides sight during power outages. As well, we light candles in our homes or at church to lift our prayers and petitions on behalf of our special needs, or for the repose of souls.
•Learning. In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples. Each moment spent with Jesus is a time to learn discipleship. He teaches them to heal the sick and comfort those who suffer. St. Matthew proclaims the words of Jesus Christ to us today. In doing so, he speaks of the need for laborers of the harvest. We, too, are to learn from the teachings of Jesus. What is happening around us? Then, we can ask ourselves: “How is God calling me to respond?”
One way is through the Corporal Works of Mercy. “The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual or bodily necessities.” (CCC#2447). Some ways are: ‘Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead.’
*Feed the hungry. We can donate to our parish St. Vincent de Paul Society and/or serve as a volunteer; or donate/help another reliable local or global charity
*Clothe the naked. Look through our closets for clothes or blankets in good use. Wash them before donating.
*When possible, help your neighbor in need -with household chores or with transportation.
•Bees and Beekeepers. Here is an interesting anecdote on the Internet:
“There exists a legend within the hagiography of Ambrose which tells of a bizarre encounter with bees. As an infant, it is believed that several bees hovered over the head of the saint. The bees left Ambrose unharmed with honey atop his head. His parents interpreted this as a divine sign and foretelling of his ability to speak eloquently and unite differing factions. For this reason, Ambrose became known as the patron saint of beekeepers and bees.” (St. Ambrose And The Legend Of A Bizarre Encounter With Bees - Catholic-Link)
St. Ambrose was very eloquent in his teachings, so perhaps this is why the legend arose. However, it reminds me of the significance of using our words wisely in how we relate or speak to others.
St. Ambrose, pray for us. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
For Reflection: How do I comfort those in need?
Recommended Stories
About the Author
Mary Olivia Patiño is a writer and poet. She enjoys photography and integrates it into creative design, and in her published books. For several years, she facilitated a faith-based writing group which she formed in collaboration with parishioners.
A lay person, she reflects on her past ministry and day-to-day experiences where she encounters God's presence, She is an Oblate of the Order of St. Benedict with the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica. She is a graduate of the Oblate School of Theology and of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.
