Blessed Ambrose of Camaldoli

detail of a bust of Blessed Ambrose of Camaldoli, date unknown, artist unknown; Santa Maria degli Angeli, Florence, Italy; swiped off Wikimedia Commons Also known as

Ambrose Traversari
Ambrogio….

Memorial

20 November

Profile

Born to the Tuscan nobility. Studied assorted arts, sciences and languages in Venice, Italy, and would be considered a classic Renaissance man. Joined the Camaldolese in 1400 at the Santa Maria del Angelis monastery in Florence, Italy. A noted scholar and theologian, he read widely, wrote extensively, including lives of the saints, collected a large library, and translated much of it. Teacher of both religious and lay people. Superior-general of the Camaldolese in 1431. Negotiator between the pope and emperor Sigismond. Worked for re-unification with the Greek bishops at the Council of Florence in 1439, drawing up the final statement of the Council.