The focus of this month’s column, “Savior of the Nations, Come,” has its roots in the fourth century. As the story goes, St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397) was struggling with the Arians, who denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. When the evil Empress Justina tried to invade one of St. Ambrose’s churches, St. Ambrose refused to hand over the house of God to those who believe differently. No doubt worried over military reprisal from the Empress, St. Ambrose gathered the flock into the basilica Portina to sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Col. 3:16) as they turned to the one true God, who could help them in their need. When the entourage sent by the Empress arrived, the soldiers are said to have been so moved by the singing that they put down their weapons and joined in the singing (adapted from Carl Schalk, First Person Singular, p. 17).
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