The feast day of St. Ambrose Sansedoni is celebrated on March 20.
St. Ambrose Sansedoni was born in Siena, Italy in 1220. At birth, he was very deformed. He needed the care of a nurse. The nurse found that he was most peaceful when he was in St. Mary Magdalene Church near the altar. She reported that an unknown pilgrim said,
“Do not cover that child’s face. He will one day be the glory of this city.”
A few days later the child stretched out his deformed limbs saying the name “Jesus” and was healed; all of his deformities were gone
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As a child Ambrose was very devout. He prayed and meditated during the night. He was drawn to reading the lives of the saints and reciting from the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin.
At the age of 17, he joined the Dominicans in Siena, Italy. He was sent to study for the priesthood in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany with St. Thomas Aquinas. As a priest he devoted himself to preaching and teaching. He became well known for his elegant preaching. He also became a peacemaker; restoring peace between Venice and Genoa and also between Florence and Pisa.
St. Ambrose died of natural causes in 1287. His writings have not survived.
To be an angel in prayer, and a beast in one’s relations with people is to go lame in both legs.
St. Francis de Sales; Feast day January 24
March is the Month of St. Joseph
