Among other virtues, humility plays a central role for Ambrose of Milan.
However, the bishop does not distinguish between two meanings
of humilitas that describe both humility as virtue, and humiliation as a
condition man burdened by hardships. Especially in the situation of religious
struggle of the Church in Milan in 380s, this humilitas becomes a vehicle
of of believer’s union with Christ, the Humble one both in moral and in mystical
sense. Humiliation of the Church and of the believers becomes paradoxically a
manifestation of the “true humble” who is Christ. Ambrose proposes the idea that
it is during the persecutions and adversities when the Church and the Christians
can experience a moment of spiritual growth towards perfection and union with
God. The paper presents this theological concept of humilitas, focusing
especially on Ambrose’s Commentary on Psalm 118.
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