You have received the charge of priesthood. Sitting at the helm of the Church, you govern the ship in the middle of the waves that rage combat against her. Maintain firm the rudder of faith, so that the strong storms of this world do not deviate your course. The sea is certainly vast and extensive, but do not fear, because He has founded her over the seas; He has secured her over the rivers.

For this reason one must not find it strange that, in the middle of such an agitated world, the Church of the Lord, edified over the apostolic rock, remains stable and, in spite of the furious embattlements of the sea, it resists, unmoved, solid in its foundation. The waves beat against her, but she maintains herself firm and, even though with frequency the elements of this world collide upon her with a great roar, she offers the oppressed the secure port of salvation.

Notwithstanding, even so the Church fluctuates on the sea, slides about on the rivers, and principally on those rivers that the Psalms refer to: The rivers lift up Your voice. This is because there exist rivers that emanate from the one that Christ has taken for drink and which has received the Spirit of God. These are the rivers that, by the overflowing abundance of spiritual grace, lift up their voice.

There exists also a river which precipitates between His saints like a torrent. And there exists a river that, like the running of the streams, gives joy to the peaceful and tranquil soul. All those who receive from the fullness of this river, like John the Evangelist, Peter and Paul, lift up their voice. And, just as the apostles proclaimed throughout all the corners of the earth the Gospel message, so does this river launch itself to announce this Good News of the Lord Jesus.

Receive then, from Christ, so that you can speak to others. Embrace in you the water of Christ, the one that praised the Lord. Collect the water originating from different places, the one spilled by the clouds of the prophets. All who collect the water from the hills, who make her come and then drink her from the fountains, later on irrigates with her, as the clouds irrigate. Fill then your inner being with this water, so that the earth of your heart remain humid and fed by her own fountains.

To fill one's self with this water it is necessary to read frequently and intelligently. This way, once filled, you will irrigate all the others. This is why the Scriptures say: If the clouds go about filled, they pour rain over the earth.

Therefore, may your words be fluid, clear and transparent, in such a way that your predication infuses gentleness in the ears of your people and with the attractiveness of your words you make them malleable. In this manner they will follow you wherever you take them.

Your exhortations will be full of wisdom. In this sense, Solomon says: the arms of the spirit are the lips of the wise; and elsewhere: your lips are bound by intelligence, meaning, your sermons shine by their clarity and intelligence, and thus your exhortations and treaties do not require to lean on the affirmations of others; instead, your words defend themselves with their own arms; may no word, uttered in vain and without intelligence, leave your mouth.




PRAYER
Lord God, who made of bishop Saint Ambrose a notable master of the Catholic faith and an admirable example of apostolic fortitude, arouse in your Church men and women in accord with Your Heart, who lead and guide always your people with strength and wisdom. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the Unity of the Holy Spirit and is God, for ever and ever. Amen