Sabas, one of the most famous monks of Palestine, was born at Mutalaska in Cappadocia. His father was an officer in the army. When the officer was sent to Alexandria, Egypt, he left his eight-year-old son with his brother-in-law.

But his aunt treated him badly, and the unhappy young Sabas ran away to another uncle. Then an argument arose between the two uncles and Sabas felt terrible. He liked to see people at peace.

So he ran away to live in a monastery and his uncles felt ashamed of themselves. They asked Sabas to come back and said they would give him all his property. But by this time, Sabas was very happy in the monastery. He did not want to leave.

Even though he was the youngest monk, he was the most fervent. When he was eighteen, Sabas went to Jerusalem. He wanted to learn to live alone with God.

He was advised to live in another monastery there for a while because he was still young. He obeyed and joyfully did all the hard work. He chopped wood for the fires and carried the heavy jugs of water.

One day, St. Sabas was sent to Alexandria, Egypt, as the traveling companion of another monk. There he saw his father and mother! They pleaded with him to come home with them. They wanted him to enjoy the same honors his father had won.

But Sabas refused. He would not even take the money they tried to give him. Finally he accepted three gold pieces. Then when he got back to the monastery, he gave them to the abbot.

At last, he was able to spend four years completely alone, as he desired. Then he was asked to start a new monastery. Many disciples came to him to learn how to be monks. Before long, he was put in charge of all the monasteries in Palestine.

Sometimes Sabas was sent to the emperor on important Church affairs. Even then, he wore his poor cloth habit, and kept to his hours of prayer. St. Sabas died in 532.

Ambrose was born at Augusta Treverorum in the Roman Empire which today is the town of Trier in Germany.

He was the son of Aurelius Ambrosius the Roman governor of Gaul. When his father died, his mother took her family back to Rome. She and her daughter, St. Marcellina, brought Ambrose up well.

He became an excellent lawyer and was then made governor of Milan and the territory around it. But by a strange event, Ambrose the governor became Ambrose the bishop.

When the Bishop of Milan died, there was a big quarrel between the Arians and the Catholics in the Cathedral about who would become the next bishop. Ambrose quickly went to the Church and gave a speech begging both sides to stop fighting and make peace.

In those days the people used to suggest to the pope the name of the one they would like as bishop. To Ambrose's great surprise, the people of Milan were so impressed with his efforts to make peace that they immediately chose him as bishop.

He tried to escape, but it seemed to be God's will and Ambrose became a priest and then bishop of Milan.

Ambrose was a great model and father to his people. He also resisted all evil with amazing courage. He faced an attacking army and convinced the leader to turn back.

Another time, Emperor Theodosius came from the east. He wanted to save Italy from invaders and asked all his officers to respect the bishop of Milan.

But when this emperor committed a very serious sin, Ambrose immediately told him that he did wrong. He asked Theodosius do public penance. The emperor did not get angry but realized that the saint was right. Very humbly he publicly made penance for his sin.

Ambrose had shown the world that no human being, even if he or she is the Emperor, is higher than the Church and that everyone was the same in the eyes of God.

People were afraid of what would happen to Italy when Ambrose died. When he became sick, they begged him to pray for a longer life.

The saint replied, "I have not behaved myself among you in such a way that I should be ashamed to live longer; nor am I afraid to die, for we have a good Master." Bishop Ambrose died on Good Friday in the year 397.