St. Ambrose: On the Sacred Mysteries, Chapter 9,54
……..(54). The Lord Jesus Himself proclaims: This is My Body. Mt. 26,26 Before the blessing of the heavenly words another nature is spoken of (bread), after the consecration the Body is signified. He Himself speaks of His Blood. Before the consecration it has another name (wine), after it is called Blood. And you say, AMEN, that is, “It is true!” Let the heart within confess what the mouth utters, let the soul feel what the voice speaks.
History note: Aurelius Ambrosius or better Saint Ambrose (c. 330 – 4 April 397), was an archbishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He became the famous patron saint of the diocese of Milan. Ambrose was the Governor of Aemilia-Liguria situated in northern Italy until 374 AD when he became the Bishop of Milan. In the late 4th century there was a deep conflict in the Milan diocese between the Catholics and Arians. There were too many disputes regarding the right of leadership in the Church. In 374 AD, Auxentius, the then bishop of Milan who was an Arian, died, and the Arians pretended the succession of the Episcopal seat. When the election took place, Ambrose went to the church to prevent any trouble that could take place and in fact this was most probable. During his address to calm the waters, someone shouted “Ambrose, bishop!”, and the whole congregation adhered to the call and exclaimed they wanted Ambrose as the successor of Auxentius. Ambrose died on the 4th April 397 after writing many important books and influencing many figures of the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church, against the Arians without explicitly waging wars. He politically managed to mexpell them from the West especially. It is mportant to note that St. Augustine returned to the Catholic Church through Amborse’s influential homilies he heard in person. (cfr. Augustine, Confessions)
Reflection: Only a few verses of Ambrose’s writing on the Holy Eucharist helps us to meditate on the miracle of this Sacrament. He encourages us to believe with all our hearts and with our whole being, that through the goodness of God of all creation, “we have received the bread we offer Him, fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life”. The same for the wine, “fruit of the vine and work of human hands, that we offer Him, becomes our spiritual drink”. Through the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we are reborn in grace and we receive life in its fullness. Our soul is immersed in holiness just as it happened with the apostles in the Last Supper with Jesus. In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we live the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We experience and live our true redemption. We can call Our Father in Heaven, we have Christ our Saviour that hears our prayers and heals us with his Divine presence and, through the Holy Spirit, we are sanctified. From fears we pass to spiritual strength; from anxiety and division we are endowed with peace and serenity; from superficial life we experience life in its fullness in Jesus Christ. We learn humbly to carry the cross and then follow Jesus our Saviour; our decision making becomes enlightened by the power of the Gospel. The sacrament of reconciliation prepares us for this banquet with the Lord. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen
Francis’ Prayer and adoration:
We adore you, most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
here, and in all your churches throughout all the world;
and we bless you,
because, by your holy cross,
you have redeemed the world.
fr. sandro