St. Ambrose in Warrior Monk

St. Ambrose is recognized on December 7 in parts of Christianity. The St. Ambrose Retreat House is a central location in Ray Keating's WARRIOR MONK: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL. Here's a brief excerpt from the book when Pope Augustine comes face to face, if you will, with the statue of Ambrose...

      Grant was now following the Pope, his aides and security entourage up the staircase in the castle’s main lobby.
      Augustine stopped at the statue of St. Ambrose, and gazed at it. As this continued for several seconds, a silence descended in the large chamber. The Pope said, “He was interesting, St. Ambrose. During a tumultuous time of disagreement in the latter part of the fourth century, he tried to keep peace among Christians in Milan. And he was not even baptized when clergy and the people called for him to become the bishop. He did not want the job, but finally acquiesced, was baptized, and eight days later became the bishop. He would be one of the great Latin Doctors of the Church. And as we talk about the Church’s role in the public arena now, it is worth recalling that Ambrose previously was a lawyer and politician who came to be a powerful voice in the Church for celibacy and voluntary poverty. If that happened today, few, I think, would doubt the transformative power of faith in our Lord.” The Pope smiled, and most everyone else joined in with his infectious laugh.