Ambrose was a Rom­an cit­i­zen, son of a Ro­man pre­fect in Gal­lia Nar­bo­nen­sis. At age 34, he was ap­point­ed gov­er­nor of north­ern It­a­ly. In 374, Am­brose was se­lect­ed as bi­shop of Mi­lan by pop­u­lar ac­claim. His hymns first came to wide­spread no­tice in a stand­off be­tween him and Em­press Just­in­a, who had sent sol­diers to ar­rest him. Am­brose and his faith­ful flock stayed in the sanc­tu­ary of the church for days, sing­ing and pray­ing. The em­press lost the test of wills, and Ambrose’s hymns have lived for mil­len­nia.

Sources

Hymns

1. Aeterna Christi munera
   • The Eternal Gifts of Christ the King
2. Aeterna coeli gloria
   • Christ, the Glory of the Sky
   • Glory of the Eternal Heaven
   • Eternal Glory of the Heavens
   • Eternal Glory of the Sky
   • Glory of the Heavens Supernal
   • O Eternal Praise of Heaven
   • Thou Glory of the Eternal Sky
3. Aurora jam spargit polum
   • Dawn Is Dappling O’er the Sky, The
   • Dawn Is Sprinkling in the East, The
   • Dawn Sprinkles All the East with Light
   • Forth from the Glorious Eye of Morn
   • Morn Has Spread Its Crimson Rays, The
   • Morn Lights Up Earth’s Canopy
   • Now Morn Is O’er the Zenith Spread
   • Now Morn­ing Sprinkles All the Sky
   • With Dawn’s Faint Streaks the Heaven
4. Aurora lucis rutilat
   • Day Draws on with Golden Light, The
5. Christe, qui lux es et dies
   • O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day
6. Deus Creator omnium
   • Creator of the Earth and Sky
7. Iam lucis orto sidere
   • Morn­ing
   • Now That the Daylight Fills the Sky
   • Now That the Sun Is Gleaming Bright
8. Jam Christus astra ascenderat
   • Above the Starry Spheres
9. Jesu Corona Virginum
   • Jesu, the Virgins’ Crown
10. Morn­ing Kindles All the Sky, The
11. Now Hail We Our Redeemer
12. Nunc Sancte nobis Spiritus
    • Blest Spirit, One with God Above
    • Come, Ho­ly Ghost, and Through Each heart
    • Come, Ho­ly Ghost, Who Ever One
    • Come, Ho­ly Ghost, Who Ever One Art With the Father
    • Even Now Vouchsafe, Good Spirit, One
    • Ho­ly Spirit, Ever One
    • Come, Ho­ly Ghost, with God the Son
    • Now, Ho­ly Ghost, to Thee We Pray
    • Now, O Ho­ly Spirit, One
    • Spirit Benignant, Who Art One
    • Thou with the Father and the Son
13. O Trin­i­ty of Blessed Light
14. Rec­tor potens, verax Deus
    • O God of Truth, O Lord of Might
15. Rerum Deus tenax vigor
    • Almighty God, Thy Throne Above
    • Creator, Whose Almighty Power
    • God of Heaven and Earth, Whose Might
    • Great God, o’er All Things Ever Reigning
    • Nature’s God, All-Ruling Power
    • O God, Creation’s Secret Force
    • O God, of All the Strength and Power
    • O God, th’Enduring Might of Things
    • O God, the Energy of Things
    • O God, the Light of All That Live
    • O God, Unchangeable and True
    • O Strength and Stay
    • O Thou, True Life of All That Live
    • Strength of the Everlasting Hills
    • Thou God of All, Unmoved and Strong
    • Thou of the Universe the Stay
16. Sermone blando Angelus
    • His Cheering Message from the Grave
17. Splendor paternae gloriae
    • O Jesus, Lord of Heavenly Grace
    • O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright
18. Te lucis ante terminum
    • Now That the Daylight Dies Away
19. Veni, Redemptor gentium
    • Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth
    • Come, Thou Savior of Our Race
    • Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland
    • Savior of the Heathen, Known
    • Savior of the Na­tions, Come