Ambrose of Milan is one of the early church fathers that we remember on Dec 7.There is a story that as a baby Ambrose had a swarm of bees cover his body as he lay in the crib and when they left a bit of honey was left on his face and that was considered a wonderful omen. He became a Bishop by popular acclamation and had a hand in the conversion of St. Augustine. He was considered a great helper of the poor and downcast and a model of mercy. He was born in 340 and died in 397.
About Christmas and the birth of Jesus Ambrose writes, “He was a baby, a child, so that you may become a complete, mature person. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, so that you might be freed from the bonds of death. He was in a manger, so that you may be on the altar. He came to earth so that you may be in the stars. He had no place in the inn, so that you may have in heaven many mansions. He, being rich, became poor for your sakes, that through his poverty you might become rich.” And he adds, touchingly, “You see that he is in swaddling clothes; you do not see that he is in heaven. You hear the cries of an infant, but you do not hear the lowing of an ox recognizing its Master—for the ox knows his owner and the ass his Master’s crib [Isa. 1: 3]” (Exposition of Luke 2.41–42).
