Ryszard Pankiewicz

The Attitude of Saint Ambrose’s „De Nabuthae” toward Property and Alms
(Abstract)

Saint Ambrose’s life is an excellent example of the actlivity of a man associated with church during great change concerning not only socio-political history of the Mediterranean worid but also the ways of thinking. All symploms of social pathology are sharply criticized in his homilies. In "De Nabuthae" Saint Ambrose tilts at the rich who tend toward enlarging their private possessions at the cost of the poor. According to Saint Ambrose it is contradic-tory to the law of nature which states that the world nas been created to all people’s advantage. Consequently the poor can't be harned and those in need should be given help. Anybody who breaks this law offends God. The best solution for the great owners will be developing intensive charity action. Saint Ambrose's ideas have much in common with cynic-stoic ones.