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Ambrose the Camaldule

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a French ecclesiastical writer, was born at Portico, near Florence, Sept. 24, 1378. He was but fourteen years of age when he entered the order of Camaldules, and afterward became one of the first men of his age in theology and Greek literature; his master in the latter was Emmanuel Chrysolares. In 1431 he became general of his order, and afterward was several times appointed to the cardinalate; but, whether or not he refused it, he never possessed that dignity. Eugenius IV sent him to the Council of Basle, where, as well as at Ferrara and Florence, he supported the pope's interests. He did all in his power to bring about the union of the Greek and Latin Churches, and he drew up the formula of union at the desire of the council. He died October 21, 1439. His works are,

1. Hodoeporicon; an Account of a Journey taken to visit the various Monasteries of Italy, by the Pope's command (1678; Florence and Lucca, 1681. 4to): —

2. Formula of union between the Churches (in the Coll. of Councils): —

3. Life of St. Chrysostom, by Palladius; translated from the Greek into Latin (Venice, 1533): —

4. The Four Books of Manuel Calecas against the Errors of the Greeks

(Ingolstadt, 1608): —

5. Nineteen Sermons of St. Ephrens Syrus: —

6. St. Donysius the Areopagite on the Celestial Hierarchy: —

7. The Book of St. Basil on Virginity, and many other translations of the Greek Fathers, which have been printed at different times.

The library of St. Mark at Florence contains also many MSS. by this writer, viz.:

1. A Chronicle of Monte-Cassino —

2. Two Books of his Proceedings while General of the Camaldules: —

3. The Lives of certain Saints: —

4. A Treatise of the Sacrament of the Body of Christ: —

5. A Treatise against the Greek Doctrine of the Procession —

6. A Discourse made at the Council of Florence: —

7. A Treatise against those who blame the monastic state.

Besides these, Mabillon and Martene have discovered various other smaller works by this author, exclusive of twenty books of his letters given in the third volume of the Veterum Scriptorum, etc … . . Ampl. Collectio, of the latter — Landon, Eccl. Dict. 1, 306; Hoefer; Biog. Generale, 2, 343.