Edit: pictures here.
Traditional Ambrosian Rite Returns to St. Ambrose Basilica in Milan
[Katholisches.info] Last Sunday (14 December), for the first time since the liturgical reforms of half a century ago, the traditional Ambrosian Rite was once again celebrated in the ancient basilica in Milan dedicated to the Church Father.
On Gaudete Sunday, December 14, 2025, a Holy Mass in the traditional Ambrosian Rite was celebrated in the venerable Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio—an event that had not taken place in this form in this significant church for decades and consequently drew a large number of the faithful.
The basilica was overcrowded, with many standing; more than 1,000 participants were counted, including a remarkably high number of young people. The 800 printed liturgy guides were quickly exhausted, and the consecrated hosts were insufficient to meet demand—a clear sign of the strong turnout.
This celebration did not merely mark a one-off event during the Advent season; it represents a perceptible shift in the treatment of the traditional Ambrosian Rite, which is deeply rooted in Milan.
What is the Ambrosian Rite?
The Ambrosian Rite is an independent form of the Latin liturgy within the Roman Catholic Church, named after the Church Father Ambrose, the holy Bishop of Milan, who led the diocese from 374 until his death in 397. It was Ambrose who baptized Saint Augustine, another Father of the Church, in the year 387. The site of this baptism can still be visited beneath the current Milan Cathedral.
The Rite, which traces back to Saint Ambrose, differs from the Roman Rite in its calendar, liturgy, and musical tradition. It is celebrated in the vast majority of churches in the Archdiocese of Milan, as well as in certain valleys of the Swiss Canton of Ticino, due to historical diocesan boundaries.
Both rites, the Roman and the Ambrosian, share the same early Christian antiquity. By the time the Roman Rite was codified under Saint Pope Gregory the Great over 1,400 years ago, the Ambrosian Rite was already fully developed in Milan.
When Pope Paul VI implemented a radical liturgical reform of the Roman Rite in 1969 and introduced the Novus Ordo, Milan would not have been directly affected. However, after a delay of several years, the Roman reform was applied to the Ambrosian Rite, which was "reformed" by its own Novus Ordo in 1976. Since then, the traditional form of the Ambrosian Rite had no longer been celebrated in the basilica dedicated to the holy Church Father.
The traditional form of this rite, celebrated according to the Ambrosian Missal of 1954, differs from the post-conciliar form primarily in language, liturgical structure, and ceremonial. For example, last Sunday was not celebrated as the Third Sunday of Advent (as in the Roman Rite), but as the Fifth Sunday of Advent.
Decades of Hurdles for the Traditional Liturgy
As in the rest of the Latin Church, there were efforts in Milan to eliminate the traditional form. Its total extinction was prevented by a small number of priests and faithful. It was pushed back by the ecclesiastical hierarchy to smaller churches, such as Santa Maria della Consolazione in Milan, which were designated for this purpose by the competent authorities.
As with the Roman Rite, the celebration of the Ambrosian Rite is bound by the permission of the Archdiocesan leadership, the Bishop, or appointed delegates. To this day, this reflects an official rejection of the traditional rite, whose impact has often been limited by restrictive measures.
New Momentum
In 2025, however, the situation has changed noticeably. The celebration at the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio—one of the oldest and most symbolic churches in the city—was made possible with the express consent of the Archdiocese. The celebration was requested by Msgr. Francesco Braschi, a well-known patristic scholar and director of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, who teaches at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. Since 2017, he has been tasked by Archbishop Mario Delpini with the celebration and pastoral care of the faithful of the traditional rite. Permission was granted by Msgr. Claudio Fontana, who has served as the archiepiscopal delegate for the traditional rite since at least 2015, alongside the Abbot of the Benedictine Abbey connected to the basilica, Msgr. Carlo Faccendini, who is also the parish priest.
Observers interpret the chronological sequence of events to suggest that the death of Pope Francis made this permission possible.
The Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio
Founded in the 4th century by Saint Ambrose himself (whose feast day was observed on December 7), the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio is among the oldest churches in Milan. It acquired its current Romanesque form in the 11th and 12th centuries, featuring a striking westwork, arcades, and an extensive cloister belonging to the attached Benedictine monastery. Beneath the high altar lies the tomb of Saint Ambrose, a major pilgrimage site for the faithful, including Orthodox Christians who venerate the Church Father.
Through the Mass celebrated on Sunday, the ancient Ambrosian Rite has become more visible and accessible within the reality of the Church in Milan. The celebration in such a prominent church is a strong sign of appreciation for this ancient liturgical tradition. The large attendance, particularly by young believers, speaks to a growing interest in liturgical depth. It can hardly be dismissed as a "nostalgic relic"—as the late Pontiff from Argentina once suggested—but rather, the holy liturgy in Milan last Sunday proved to be a living expression of faith that resonates with many.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Facebook (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
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