Pre-eminent in the Western Church were St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Jerome and St. Gregory the Great.
St. Ambrose (340-397), son of the Roman prefect of Treves, became governor of Milan. While yet only a catechumen, he was addressing the contesting parties in an episcopal election, when a young child cried out: “Ambrose for bishop.” He was forthwith consecrated against his will. In this exalted station he gave marked proofs of apostolic zeal and firmness of character. He distributed all his goods to the poor, and each day fasted until evening. He successfully opposed the Arians, who, aided by the powerful influence of the Empress Justina, endeavored to seize a church at Milan. He spent day and night in the church with the people, singing psalms. His sermons moved many and brought about the conversion of St. Augustine. He excluded the Emperor Theodosius from the church services and required him to do public penance because Theodosius, enraged at the destruction of his own statue, had caused the death of 7,000 inhabitants of Thessalonica. To the remonstrance of the emperor, St Ambrose replied: “If thou hast sinned with David, also do penance with David.” He composed the beautiful hymns: “O lux beata Trinitas!” “Splendor paternae gloriae,” “Deus Creator omnium,” ” Veni, Redemptor Gentium. He died in 397, leaving many valuable writings.
St. Jerome. — St. Jerome (340-420), born at Stridon, in Dalmatia, undertook extensive travels in the pursuit of knowledge. He sojourned for four years in the Syrian desert, Chalcis, where he devoted himself to the practice of penance and the study of Hebrew. At the urgent request of Pope Damasus I, he revised, according to the original Hebrew text, the Itala, i.e., the ancient Latin translation of Holy Scripture. His edition, being universally adopted, was called “Vulgata.” He went to Bethlehem, where, for more than thirty years he lived near the Grotto of the Nativity and devoted his time to the translation of the Old Testament from the Hebrew. He died in 420. His numerous works, especially his beautiful letters, attest his great learning.
St. Augustine. — St. Augustine (354-430) the greatest Doctor of the Church in any age, was born at Tagaste, in Numidia. Endowed with extraordinary talents, he went astray as a youth, and was captivated by the heresy of the Manichaeans, to which he adhered for nine years. But this sect could neither satisfy his craving for truth, nor give him peace of heart. In his “Confessions ” we find him beautifully expressing the sentiment: “Thou hast made us” for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is not at peace until it rests in Thee.” He taught rhetoric at Milan, and moved by curiosity was led to attend the sermons of St. Ambrose. Grace and truth captivated his heart. While walking in a garden, Augustine heard a miraculous voice saying: “Take and read.” He opened the Sacred Scriptures and found the passage especially applicable to himself, ” Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting nor in chambering.”[4] After many interior struggles, he was baptized by St. Ambrose, at the age of thirty-three. His pious mother, St. Monica, had unceasingly prayed for him, and St. Ambrose had consoled her with the words, ” A child of so many tears cannot be lost.” Augustine then gave up the world and devoted himself to study, penance and prayer. He was ordained priest and later on, in 395, was elevated to the episcopal see of Hippo, now Bona, in Africa. From that time, his zealous labors extended to all classes, the clergy, the poor, the widow and the orphan. He was distinguished for the keenness of his mind, his clear logic and his profound knowledge, and was able to triumph over the Manichaeans, the Donatists and the Pelagians. Yet he was calm, mild, humble and kind-hearted to his enemies. Many of his 232 writings are still extant. His principal works are the “City of God ” and the “Confessions.”‘ He died in the year 430.
Pope St. Gregory the Great. — Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604) was born of an illustrious Roman family. Having wealth and learning, he was appointed praetor of Rome, an office which he soon abandoned to give himself to God. He became a Benedictine monk, then abbot, afterwards cardinal deacon and papal legate to Constantinople; and finally, despite his protests, he was unanimously chosen pope in 590. He was zealous, active, prudent, humble, gentle and solicitous for the welfare of the entire Church. He combated heresy, increased the solemnity of divine worship, promoted the ecclesiastical “Gregorian” chant, established special schools for singers, invented a system of musical notation, improved church discipline, protected the oppressed against the arbitrary rule of the imperial officers, and fought against slavery. He sent Augustine (of Canterbury) as missionary to England. Though feeble in health, he wrote many theological works. At the same time, he was careful of the revenues of the Church, and supported convents, orphanages, and the schools for the poor. He was obliged to take upon himself almost the entire civil government of Rome, and in this fact lay the beginning of ” the papal monarchy.” He paid the costs of wars against the invading barbarians and furnished grain to the devastated countries. He gave an example of humility to the bishops of Constantinople, who sought the title of “Ecumenical Patriarch,” by calling himself “Servant of the servants of God,” a title retained by the popes to the present day. Gregory died in A.D. 604. His most important writings are his 840 letters.
In the course of time the names of Pope St. Leo the Great (+ 461) and of St. Hilary of Poitiers, the “Athanasius of the West” (+ 366), were added to the list of Church Fathers.