St. Ambrose and Advent

On the Feast Day of St. Ambrose of Milan, Doctor of the Church

On December 7, the church has historically remembered St. Ambrose of Milan. Ambrose lived in the fourth century. He greatly influenced the music of the Western church and wrote hymns that the church still sings today, including a hymn for the season of Advent whose title is translated, Savior of the Nations, Come. This hymn is very particular concerning the nature of Christ and the virgin birth, most likely because of the Arian heresy infiltrating Christianity while Ambrose was bishop. Verse six shows a certain focus on the person of Christ, the central issue of the Council of Nicaea:

“For You are the Father’s Son

Who in flesh the vict’ry won.

By Your mighty pow’r make whole

All our ills of flesh and soul.”

Savior of the Nations, Come (Lutheran Service Book #332) was first translated into German by Martin Luther in the early sixteenth century, and then into English by several others in the late twentieth century. This hymn’s message is still a powerful, beautiful confession of God’s grace.

St. Ambrose incorporated hymns and chanting into church worship as memorable ways to proclaim the faith, bringing distinction and beauty to the divine service. He aimed to refocus the church of his time on Christ’s coming. With such hymns, during the season of Advent we confess the divinity of Christ and our hope that He will come again to judge the living and the dead. As each new church year reminds us of Christ’s promise to return, we sing with Ambrose and all the saints:

Savior of the nations, come,

Virgin’s Son, make here your home.

Marvel now, O Heav’n and Earth,

That the Lord chose such a birth.