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{{Short description|Liturgical rite of the Archdiocese of Milan}}
{{About|the current form of Ambrosian Rite|the form of this Rite used before the Vatican II|Traditional Ambrosian Rite}}
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The '''Ambrosian Rite''' ({{langx|it|Rito Ambrosiano}})<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-23 |title=Rito Ambrosiano |website= Chiesa di Milano |url=https://www.chiesadimilano.it/vivere-la-chiesa/celebrare-la-fede/rito-ambrosiano-2 |access-date=2024-04-10 |language=it-IT}}</ref> is a [[Latin liturgical rites|Latin liturgical rite]] of the [[Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] (specifically The Divine Liturgy of Saint Ambrose). The [[ritual family|rite]] is named after [[Ambrose|Saint Ambrose]], a [[bishop of Milan]] in the fourth century. It is used by around five million Catholics in the greater part of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan|Archdiocese of Milan]] (excluding [[Monza]], [[Treviglio]] and [[Trezzo sull'Adda]]), in some parishes of the [[Diocese of Como]], [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bergamo|Bergamo]], [[Diocese of Novara|Novara]], [[Diocese of Lodi|Lodi]], in the [[Diocese of Lugano]], [[Canton of Ticino]], [[Switzerland]], less prominently in some [[Western Rite Orthodoxy|Western Rite]] orthodox parishes and on special occasions of other jurisdictions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metropolitan of Piraeus celebrates ancient Liturgy of St. Ambrose of Milan |url=https://orthochristian.com/157743.html |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=OrthoChristian.Com}}</ref>
[[File:Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) evening.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Milan Cathedral]], mother church of all Ambrosian Christians]]
The Ambrosian Rite has risked suppression at various points in its history. It was reformed after the [[Second Vatican Council]] ([[Pope Paul VI]] belonged to the Ambrosian Rite, having previously been [[Archbishop of Milan]]). In the 20th century, it also gained prominence and prestige from the attentions of two other scholarly Archbishops of Milan: Achille Ratti, later [[Pope Pius XI]], and the Blessed [[Ildefonso Schuster]], both of whom were involved in studies and publications on the rite.

==History==
{{Further|Ambrosian hymns}}
[[File:Diffusione del rito Ambrosiano file SVG.svg|thumb|Diffusion of the Ambrosian Rite]]
The Church of Milan's own liturgy is named ''Ambrosian'' after its patron saint [[St. Ambrose|Ambrose]].<ref name="EECO 2018">{{cite encyclopedia |author-last=Navoni |author-first=Marco |year=2018 |title=Ambrosian Liturgy |editor1-last=Hunter |editor1-first=David G. |editor2-last=van Geest |editor2-first=Paul J. J. |editor3-last=Lietaert Peerbolte |editor3-first=Bert Jan |encyclopedia=Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online |location=[[Leiden]] and [[Boston]] |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |doi=10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_036683 |issn=2589-7993}}</ref> The Ambrosian Rite evolved and developed from the 4th century onwards.<ref name="EECO 2018"/> There is no direct evidence that the rite was the composition of St. Ambrose, but his name has been associated with it since the 8th century. It is possible that Ambrose, who succeeded the [[Arianism|Arian]] bishop [[Auxentius of Milan]], may have removed material seen as unorthodox by the mainstream church and issued corrected service books which included the principal characteristics distinguishing it from other rites.<ref name="CathEncy">{{harvnb|Jenner|1907}}</ref>

According to [[Augustine of Hippo|St. Augustine]] (''Confessiones'', IX, vii) and [[Paulinus the Deacon]] (''Vita S. Ambrosii'', § 13), St. Ambrose introduced innovations, not indeed into the Mass, but into what would seem to be the [[Liturgy of the Hours|Divine Office]], at the time of his contest with the [[Empress Justina]], for the [[Portian Basilica]] which she claimed for the Arians. St. Ambrose filled the church with Catholics and kept them there night and day until the peril was past. And he arranged [[Psalms]] and [[hymns]] for them to sing, as St. Augustine says, "after the manner of the Orientals, lest the people should languish in cheerless monotony"; and of this Paulinus the deacon says: "Now for the first time antiphons, hymns, and vigils began to be part of the observance of the Church in Milan, which devout observance lasts to our day not only in that church but in nearly every province of the West".<ref name="CathEncy"/>

From the time of St. Ambrose, whose hymns are well-known and whose liturgical allusions may certainly be explained as referring to a rite which possessed the characteristics of that which is called by his name, until the period of [[Charlemagne]] (circa AD 800), there is a gap in the history of the Milanese Rite. However, [[St. Simplician]], the successor of St. Ambrose, added much to the rite and St. Lazarus (438–451) introduced the three days of the litanies (''Cantù, Milano e il suo territorio'', I, 116). The Church of Milan underwent various [[wikt:vicissitude|vicissitudes]] and for a period of some eighty years (570–649), during the [[Lombards|Lombard]] conquests, the [[Holy See|see]] was moved to [[Genoa]] in Liguria.<ref name="CathEncy"/>

In the eighth century, manuscript evidence begins. In a short treatise on the various [[Liturgy of the Hours|cursus]] entitled "Ratio de Cursus qui fuerunt ex auctores" (sic in Cotton Manuscripts, Nero A. II, in the [[British Library]]), written about the middle of the eighth century, probably by an Irish monk in France, is found perhaps the earliest attribution of the Milan use to St. Ambrose, though it quotes the authority of St. Augustine, probably alluding to the passage already mentioned: "There is yet another Cursus which the blessed Bishop Augustine says that the blessed Ambrose composed because of the existence of a different use of the heretics, which previously used to be sung in Italy".<ref name="CathEncy"/>

According to a narrative of [[Landulphus Senior]], the eleventh-century chronicler of Milan, Charlemagne attempted to abolish the Ambrosian Rite, as he or his father, [[Pepin the Short]], had abolished the [[Gallican Rite]] in France, in favour of a Gallicanized [[Roman Rite]]. He sent to Milan and caused to be destroyed or sent beyond the mountain, quasi in exilium (as if into exile), all the Ambrosian books which could be found. Eugenius the Bishop, (transmontane bishop, as Landulf calls him), begged him to reconsider his decision. After the manner of the time, an ordeal, which reminds one of the celebrated trials by fire and by battle in the case of [[Alfonso VI of Castile|Alfonso VI]] and the [[Mozarabic Rite]], was determined on. Two books, Ambrosian and Roman, were laid closed upon the altar of St. Peter's Church in Rome and left for three days, and the one which was found open was to win. They were both found open, and it was resolved that as God had shown that one was as acceptable as the other, the Ambrosian Rite should continue. But the destruction had been so far effective that no Ambrosian books could be found, save one missal which a faithful priest had hidden for six weeks in a cave in the mountains. Therefore the [[Owners manual|Manuale]] was written out from memory by certain priests and clerks (Landulph, Chron., 10–13). Walafridus Strabo, who died Abbot of Reichenau in 849, and must therefore have been nearly, if not quite, contemporary with this incident, says nothing about it, but (De Rebus Ecclesiasticis, xxii), speaking of various forms of the Mass, says: "Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, also arranged a ceremonial for the Mass and other offices for his own church and for other parts of Liguria, which is still observed in the Milanese Church".<ref name="CathEncy"/>

In the eleventh century [[Pope Nicholas II]], who in 1060 had tried to abolish the [[Mozarabic Rite]], wished also to attack the Ambrosian and was aided by [[St. Peter Damian]] but he was unsuccessful, and [[Pope Alexander II]] his successor, himself a Milanese, reversed his policy in this respect. [[St. Gregory VII]] made another attempt, and Le Brun (Explication de la Messe, III, art. I, § 8) conjectures that Landulf's miraculous narrative was written with a purpose about that time. Having weathered these storms, the Ambrosian Rite had peace for some three centuries and a half.<ref name="CathEncy"/>

In the first half of the fifteenth century Cardinal [[Branda da Castiglione]], who died in 1448, was [[papal legate|legate]] in Milan. As part of his plan for reconciling [[Filippo Maria Visconti]], Duke of Milan, and the Holy See, he endeavoured to substitute the Roman Rite for the Ambrosian. The result was a serious riot, and the Cardinal's legateship came to an abrupt end. After that, the Ambrosian Rite was safe until the [[Council of Trent]]. The Rule of that Council, that local uses which could show a prescription of two centuries might be retained, saved Milan, not without a struggle, from the loss of its Rite, and [[St. Charles Borromeo]] though he made some alterations in a Roman direction, was most careful not to destroy its characteristics. A small attempt made against it by a Governor of Milan who had obtained permission from the Pope to have the Roman Mass said in any church which he might happen to attend, was defeated by St. Charles, and his own revisions were intended to do little more than was inevitable in a living rite.<ref name="CathEncy"/>

Since his time the temper of the Milan Church has been most conservative, and the only alterations in subsequent editions seem to have been slight improvements in the wording of rubrics and in the arrangement of the books. The district in which the Ambrosian Rite is used is nominally the old archepiscopal province of Milan before the changes of 1515 and 1819, but actually, it is not exclusively used even in the city of Milan itself. In parts of the Swiss Canton of [[Ticino]], it is used; in other parts, the Roman Rite is so much preferred that it is said that when [[Cardinal Gaisruck]] tried to force the Ambrosian upon them the inhabitants declared that they would be either Roman or Lutheran. There are traces also of the use of the Ambrosian Rite beyond the limits of the Province of Milan. In 1132–1134, two Augustinian canons of [[Ratisbon]], Paul, said by Bäumer to be Paul of Bernried, and Gebehard, held a correspondence with Anselm, Archbishop of Milan, and Martin, treasurer of St. Ambrose, with a view of obtaining copies of the books of the Ambrosian Rite, so that they might introduce it into their church. In the fourteenth century, the [[Emperor Charles IV]] introduced the Rite into the Church of St. Ambrose at [[Prague]]. Traces of it, mixed with the Roman, are said by Hoeyinck (Geschichte der kirchl. Liturgie des Bisthums Augsburg) to have remained in the [[diocese of Augsburg]] down to its last breviary of 1584, and according to Catena (Cantù, Milano e il suo territorio, 118) the use of [[Capua]] in the time of St. Charles Borromeo had some resemblance to that of Milan.<ref name="CathEncy"/>

[[File:Messa in rito ambrosiano antico alla Madonnina di Legnano.jpg|thumb|An Ambrosian Rite Mass being celebrated in the Church of the [[Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary]], Legnano]]

Important editions of the Ambrosian [[Missal]] were issued in 1475, 1594, 1609, 1902 and 1954. The last of these was the final edition in the [[Traditional Ambrosian Rite|form of the Ambrosian Rite that preceded the Second Vatican Council]] and is now used mainly in the church of Santa Maria della Consolazione in [[Milan]].

Following the guidelines of the [[Second Vatican Council]] and the preliminary revisions of the Ordinary of the Mass of the Roman Rite, a new bilingual (Latin and Italian) edition of the Ambrosian Missal was issued in 1966, simplifying the 1954 missal, mainly in the prayers the priest said inaudibly and in the [[genuflection]]s, and adding the [[General Intercessions|Prayer of the Faithful]]. The [[Eucharistic prayer]] continued to be said in Latin until 1967. The [[altar]]s were moved to face the people.

When the [[Mass of Paul VI]] was issued in 1969, most Ambrosian-Rite priests began to use the new Roman Missal (only omitting the ''[[Agnus Dei (liturgy)|Agnus Dei]]''), the [[Roman Rite|Roman]] [[Lectionary]], and the [[General Roman Calendar]] (with its four-week [[Advent]]). The Ambrosian form of administering the other [[Sacraments of the Catholic Church|sacraments]] was for the most part already identical with the Roman. This made it uncertain whether the Ambrosian Rite would survive. But in promulgating the documents of the 46th diocesan synod (1966–1973), Cardinal Archbishop [[Giovanni Colombo]], supported by [[Pope Paul VI]] (a former Archbishop of Milan), finally decreed that the Ambrosian Rite, brought into line with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, should be preserved.

Work, still in progress, began on all the Ambrosian liturgical texts. On 11 April 1976, Cardinal Colombo published the new Ambrosian [[Missal]], covering the whole liturgical year. Later in the same year an experimental [[Lectionary]] appeared, covering only some liturgical seasons, and still following the Roman-Rite Lectionary for the rest. Minor modifications of the Ambrosian Missal were implemented in 1978, restoring for example the place of the [[Creed]] in the Mass, and the new Ambrosian rite for [[Catholic Funeral|funerals]] was issued.

The Ambrosian Missal also restored two early-medieval Ambrosian Eucharistic prayers, unusual for placing the [[epiclesis]] after the [[Words of Institution]], in line with Oriental use. The new and revised edition of the Ambrosian Missal was issued to be published by archbishop [[Mario Delpini|Mario Enrico Delpini]] in 2024 on the First Sunday of Advent, restoring some peculiar prayers and rites as they were contained in the 1954 editio typica.

In 1984–1985 the new Ambrosian Liturgy of the Hours was published and in 2006 the new Ambrosian rite of [[Catholic marriage|marriage]]. On 20 March 2008 the new Ambrosian Lectionary, superseding the 1976 experimental edition, and covering the whole liturgical year, was promulgated, coming into effect from the First Sunday of Advent 2008 (16 November 2008).<ref>[http://www.chiesadimilano.it/or4/or?uid=ADMIesy.main.index&oid=1325806 Il Segno: ''La Parola ogni giorno dell'anno''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006052006/http://www.chiesadimilano.it/or4/or?uid=ADMIesy.main.index |date=2008-10-06 }}.</ref> It is based on the ancient Ambrosian liturgical tradition and contains in particular, a special rite of light ("lucernarium") and proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus, for use before the Saturday-evening celebration of the Mass of the Sunday, seen as the weekly Easter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blip.tv/file/1255218 |title=Video of the rite |access-date=2008-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006061703/http://blip.tv/file/1255218 |archive-date=2008-10-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Pope John Paul II]] celebrated Mass in Milan using the Ambrosian Rite in 1983, as did [[Pope Francis]] in 2017.

==Origin==
[[File:Santa messa solenne in rito antico celebrata nella chiesa di S. Ambrogio.jpg|thumb|A solemn Mass celebrated in the Ambrosian Rite using the 1954 Missal (pre-Vatican II) in the church of its patron, Saint Ambrose, [[Legnano]]]]
The Catholic Encyclopedia of 1907 gives three theories of the ancient origin of the rite, none conclusive. The question resolves itself into whether the Ambrosian Rite is archaic Roman or a much-Romanized form of the [[Gallican Rite]].

J. M. Neale and others from the Anglican tradition referred the [[Hispano-Gallican Rite|Hispano-Gallican]] and [[Celtic Rite|Celtic]] family of liturgies to an original imported into [[Provence]] from [[Ephesus]] in Asia Minor by [[Irenaeus|St. Irenæus]], who had received it through [[St. Polycarp]] from [[St. John the Divine]]. The name Ephesine was applied to this liturgy, and it was sometimes called the Liturgy of St. John. In support of this theory, Colman, at the [[Synod of Whitby]] in 664, attributed the Celtic rule of Easter to St. John. But Neale greatly exaggerated the Romanizing effected by St. Charles Borromeo. W. C. Bishop, however, in his article on the Ambrosian Breviary, takes up the same line as Neale in claiming a Gallican origin for the Ambrosian Divine Office.<ref name="CathEncy" />

[[Louis Duchesne]] in his ''"Origines du culte chrétien"'' theorizes that the rite was imported or modified from the East, perhaps by the Cappadocian Arian Bishop Auxentius (355–374), the predecessor of St. Ambrose, and gradually spread to Gaul, Spain, and Britain.<ref name="CathEncy" /> [[Josef Andreas Jungmann|Jungmann]] later concluded that "Duchesne's thesis can be accepted in the sense that Milan was the centre from which a Gallican type liturgy took its origin."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ambrosian Rite {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ambrosian-rite|website=www.encyclopedia.com|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref> Here, "Gallican" means a Latin (not Eastern) liturgy somewhat different from that of Rome.<ref>J. A. Jungmann, ''The Early Liturgy'' (Notre Dame, Ind. 1959) 227–237.</ref>

[[Antonio Maria Ceriani]] and [[Magistretti]] maintain that the Ambrosian Rite has preserved the pre-Gelasian and pre-Gregorian form of the Roman Rite.<ref name="CathEncy" />

==Differences from the Roman Rite==
Some features of the Ambrosian Rite distinguish it from the [[Roman Rite]] [[liturgy]].

===Mass===
The main differences in the [[Mass (liturgy)#Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] are:<ref>[http://www.webalice.it/primus_inter_pares/ritoambrosiano.pdf Ambrosian Rite Ordinary of the Mass (in Italian)]</ref>
*The cross with the crucifix is always facing the celebrant while processing (in the Roman Rite it faces the crowd).
*During [[solemnities]], the initial procession stops at the footsteps of the Sanctuary and so-called ''XII Kyrie'' are sung twelve times. Then an ambrosian antiphon called ''Psallenda'' (different for each feast) is sung twice, with ''Gloria Patri-Sicut erat'' in between. During the ''Gloria Patri'' verse, all the [[acolyte]]s bow to the cross, while during the ''Sicut erat'' verse all bow to the celebrant. Only at this time, they enter the Sanctuary and the Mass begins.
*The principal celebrant blesses all the readers, not only the deacon. The reader asks for the blessing saying to the priest: "Bless me, father". Then, while tracing the [[sign of the cross]], the main celebrant tells the reader: "Read in the name of the Lord".
*During the Mass, four prayers are said: Prayer over the people (''oratio super populum''), Prayer over the altar shroud (''oratio'' ''super sindonem''), Prayer over the Gifts (''oratio'' ''super oblatam'') and Prayer after the communion (''oratio'' ''post communionem''). In traditional Ambrosian Rite the celebrant always faces the altar in front of the missal when he said "[[Dominus vobiscum]]". 
*The initial antiphon is called ''Ingressa'' and has not the form of the roman Introitus (i.e. antiphon, psalm, Gloria, antiphon).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Some Ambrosian Chants For Lent |url=https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/03/some-ambrosian-chants-for-lent.html |access-date=2025-06-18}}</ref> The only example of ''Ingressa'' equal to roman ''Introitus'' is "''Requiem aeternam''" during the [[Requiem|Mass of the Dead]].
*The Gospel is followed by an [[antiphon]] called ''Post Evangelium'' (absent in the [[Roman Rite]]).
*The [[Holy Kiss|Rite of Peace]] comes before the [[Offertory|Presentation of the Gifts]]. During the presentation of the Gifts, no "''Orate, fratres''" (pray brothers and sisters) is said as it happens in the Roman rite.
*The [[Creed#Christian creeds|Creed]] follows the [[Offertory|Preparation of the Gifts]], before the [[Prayer over the Gifts]].
*There are some differences between the First [[Anaphora (liturgy)|Eucharistic Prayer]] of the Ambrosian Missal and the [[Roman Canon]], the first in the [[Roman Missal]]; but its Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV are the same as in the [[Roman Rite]]. In addition, the Ambrosian Rite has two proper Eucharistic Prayers, used mainly on [[Easter]] and [[Maundy Thursday|Holy Thursday]]. In traditional Ambrosian Rite, the celebrant washed his hands right before the Consecration, no ''Lavabo inter innocentes'' was said. 
*The priest breaks the [[Host (Holy Communion)|Host]] and places a piece in the main [[Chalice (cup)#Religious use|chalice]] before the [[Lord's Prayer]], while an [[antiphon]] (the ''[[Confractorium]]'') is sung or recited.
*The ''[[Agnus Dei (liturgy)|Agnus Dei]]'' is not said (in the traditional Ambrosian rite ''[[Agnus Dei]]'' was said or sung only at the [[Mass for the Dead]]).
*Before the final blessing, the people say ''Kyrie, eleison'' ("Lord, have mercy") three times (in the traditional Ambrosian Rite ''Kyrie, eleison'' were repeated always three times after each "''[[Dominus vobiscum]]''" which was not followed by a prayer and at the end of ''[[Gloria in excelsis Deo]]'').
*At the end of the Mass, instead of saying "The Mass is ended, go in peace" (''[[Ite, missa est]]'') the priest says simply "Go in peace" ("''Procedamus cum pace''"), to which the people respond "In the name of Christ" ("''In nomine Christi''").
*The Ambrosian Rite has its own [[Lectionary|cycle of readings]] at Mass.
*Many of the prayers said by the [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|priest]] during Mass are peculiar to the Ambrosian Rite. [[Preface (liturgy)|Prefaces]] are all proper for each feast (there are no common prefaces).

===Liturgical year===
The main differences in the [[liturgical year]] are:
*[[Advent]] and [[Lent]] have both six weeks (Roman Advent has four weeks). On the sixth Sunday of Advent the [[solemnity]] of the Divine Maternity of the Virgin Mary is celebrated (white vestments).
*[[Lent]] starts with the first Sunday (four days later than in the Roman Rite), no [[Ash Wednesday]] is celebrated and [[Carnival]] continues until "Fat Saturday" ("sabato grasso" in [[Italian language|Italian]]), corresponding to [[Shrove Tuesday]] (called "[[Mardi Gras]]", i.e. "Fat Tuesday", in [[French language|French]]) in areas where the [[Roman Rite]] is used. Before [[Charles Borromeo|St. Charles Borromeo]], the First Sunday of Lent called "the Sunday head of Lent" (''Dominica in capite Quadragesimae'') was a solemn feast celebrated with white vestments and [[Gloria in excelsis Deo]] and [[Alleluja]] were sung. In particular this hallelujatic verse was the longest of the whole ambrosian chant repertoire and now survived as a ''Cantus'' (the equivalent of the roman ''Tractus''). The Alleluja were sung until the second vespers, when a solemn antiphon commonly called the farewell to Alleluja was sung ("''Quadraginta dies et noctes aperti sunt caeli, et omnes animae habentes spiritum vitae ingressae sunt in arca, et clausa est, hallelujah''" - For forty days and nights the heavens were open and all souls having the spirit of life entered into the ark, and it closed, alleluja). After the Borromeo's liturgical reform, First Sunday of Lent is celebrated with violet vestments and neither Gloria in excelsis nor Alleluja are sung. Being absent the Ash Wednesday, fasting and abstinence is postponed onto the first Friday of Lent. In replacement of ''Gloria in excelsis'', a litany is sung according to two distinct formulas for odd and even Sundays, "''Divinae pacis''"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ambrosian Lent III: Divinae pacis |url=https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/02/ambrosian-lent-iii-divinae-pacis.html |access-date=2025-06-18}}</ref> and "''Dicamus omnes''"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ambrosian Lent IV: Dicamus omnes |url=https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/02/ambrosian-lent-iv-dicamus-omnes.html |access-date=2025-06-18}}</ref> respectively. Also Sundays of Lent are different and take the name from the Gospel's reading:
**First Sunday - ''in capite Quadragesimae'' ([[Temptation of Christ|temptations]] in the desert), 
**Second Sunday - ''de Samaritana'', 
**Third Sunday - ''de Abraham'', 
**Fourth Sunday - ''de Caeco'', 
**Fifth Sunday - ''de Lazaro''. 
*On Fridays in Lent, Mass is not celebrated and, with a few exceptions, [[Eucharist (Catholic Church)|Communion]] is not distributed. In substitution of the Mass, the prayer of [[Via Crucis]] takes place.
*[[Liturgical colours]] throughout the year are different from the Roman Rite. For example, in the Ambrosian Rite red is the eucharistic colour and the standard colour of [[vestments]] from [[Pentecost]] to the third Sunday of October (solemnity of the Dedication of the [[Milan Cathedral|Cathedral]]), rather than the green used in the Roman Rite. No violet is used in Ambrosian rite during Advent and Lent, but a brown-nuance called "morello" (i.e. blackberry colour, similar to prune). Black vestments are used during the ordinary days of Lent (''feriae''). Rose vestments are absent, being absent the ''Laetare'' and ''Gaudete'' Sundays. Green is used for the whole period after the [[Epiphany season|Epiphany]] and during the liturgical period between the Dedication of the Cathedral and Advent. During Easter, white vestments are used on the [[Holy Saturday]], on Sunday of [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection]] and for the whole week ''in albis''. Afterwards, starting from the first Sunday after Easter called ''in albis depositis'', white vestments are set down literally and green vestments are used.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN5NItMBhmw |title=🔴 Transmisja Mszy Świętej z Mediolanu, Ryt ambrozjański w Kościele pod wezwaniem NMP Pocieszycielki |date=2024-04-14 |last=Anna Maciej Świerzyńscy |access-date=2025-06-13 |via=YouTube}}</ref> After the [[Liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI|liturgical reform of 1969]], all Easter Sundays are celebrated with white vestments as in the Roman Rite.
*The Holy Week is called the Authentic Week (''in Authentica'') and starts with the Palm Sundays. Red vestments are used for all celebrations, also for [[Maundy Thursday]]. The [[Good Friday]] celebration remembers the [[Passion of Jesus|Passion and Death of the Lord]] on the cross with the readings from the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]], followed by the worship of the cross.
*After the Sunday of [[Ascension of Jesus|Ascension]], three days of penance called [[Rogation days|Minor Rogations]] from Monday to Wednesday (called ''litaniae triduane'' meaning three days of rogations) prepare for the solemnity of Pentecost, following the words of Jesus "''The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast''" (Mt 9,14-15). Before the [[Liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI|Liturgical reform]] of 1969, this was the moment in which ashes were sprinkled to worshippers. After 1969, to maintain the distinction with Roman Rite ashes are sprinkled on the first Monday of Lent - i.e. the day after the First Sunday of Lent.

===Other===
Other differences are that:
*The [[Liturgy of the Hours]] (also known as the Divine Office or Breviary) is different in structure and in various features.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Liturgia delle Ore - Cathopedia, l'enciclopedia cattolica|url=http://it.cathopedia.org/wiki/Liturgia_delle_ore|website=it.cathopedia.org|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kellerbook.com/7AMBRO~1.HTM |title=Breviarium Ambrosianum |access-date=2008-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011051935/http://www.kellerbook.com/7AMBRO~1.HTM |archive-date=2008-10-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*The liturgical rites of [[Holy Week]] are quite different.
*The rite of [[Christian burial|funerals]] is different.
*[[Baptism]] of infants is done by triple immersion of the head. 
*The [[thurible]] has no top cover, is lighter and is swung in anti-clockwise before the censing of a person or object, then three times in clockwise (''ductus'') and in front (''tractus''), thus to shape the sign of a cross.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribe |first=Shawn |title=Liturgical Details: The Uncapped Thurible |url=http://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2019/02/liturgical-details-uncapped-thurible.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Liturgical Arts Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WFv2RfplrU |title=Incensing l Solemn Vespers in Ambrosian rite (Usus recentior) |date=2017-06-09 |last=mpuidokas |access-date=2025-06-13 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>The form of the thurible and the manner in which it is swung can be seen in [http://blip.tv/file/1255218 this video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006061703/http://blip.tv/file/1255218 |date=2008-10-06 }}</ref>
*Ambrosian [[deacon#Latin Catholicism|deacons]] wear the [[Stole (vestment)|stole]] over the [[dalmatic]] and not under it.
*The Ambrosian [[Cassock#Western practice|cassock]], buttoned with only five buttons below the neck, is held with a [[Fascia (vestment)|fascia]] at the waist, and is worn with a round white collar.
*[[Ambrosian chant]] is distinct from [[Gregorian chant]].
*Some senior priests (notably [[Provost (religion)|provosts]] and certain [[Canon (priest)|canons]]) are entitled to wear [[Pontifical vestments|vestments]] commonly associated with bishops, including the [[mitre]].
*A liturgical privilege of the Archbishop of Milan is to sing Vespers wearing the chasuble in place of the cope.
*The liturgical burning of the ''faro'' (a large cotton sphere suspended in the air, inside the church) on feasts of [[martyr]]s to remind the offer of their lifes to God.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/02/lighting-of-faro-in-ambrosian-rite.html |title = The Lighting of the "Faro" in the Ambrosian Rite |author=Shawn Tribe |publisher = Novus Motus Liturgicus |url-status=live |access-date = 26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304215548/http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org:80/2008/02/lighting-of-faro-in-ambrosian-rite.html |archive-date=2010-03-04 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lighting of the "Faro" in the Ambrosian Rite |url=https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/02/lighting-of-faro-in-ambrosian-rite.html |access-date=2025-06-18}}</ref>

==Early manuscripts==
The early manuscripts of the Ambrosian Rite are generally found in the following forms:<ref name="CathEncy"/>

*The "Sacramentary" contains the [[Orationes super Populum]], [[Prophecies]], [[Epistles]], [[Gospels]], [[Orationes super Sindonem]], and [[Orationes super Oblata]], the [[Preface]]s and [[Post-Communion]]s throughout the year, with the variable forms of the Communicantes and Hanc igitur, when they occur, and the solitary Post Sanctus of Easter Eve, besides the ceremonies of Holy Week, etc., and the Ordinary and Canon of the Mass. There are often also occasional offices usually found in a modern ritual, such as [[Baptism]], the [[Anointing of the Sick (Catholic Church)|Visitation and Unction of the Sick]], the [[Burial of the Dead]], and various benedictions. It is essentially a priest's book, like the [[Euchologion]] of the Greeks.
*The "[[Psalter]]" contains the [[Psalms]] and [[Canticles]]. It is sometimes included with the "Manual".
*The "Manual" is nearly the complement of the "Sacramentary" and the "Psalter" as regards both the Mass and the Divine Office. It contains for the Divine Office: the Lucernaria, Antiphons, Responsoria, Psallenda, Completoria, Capitula, Hymns, and other changeable parts, except the Lessons, which are found separately. And for the Mass, it contains the Ingressœ, Psalmellœ, Versus, Cantus, Antiphonœ ante and post Evangelium, Offertoria, Confractoria, and Transitoria. The "Manual" often also contains occasional services such as are now usually found in a Ritual.
*The "Antiphoner" is a Manual with notes.
*The "Rituale" and "Pontificale" have contents similar to those of Roman books of the same name, though the early Manuscripts are less ample.

===Sacramentaries and missals===
The following are some of the most noted Manuscripts of the rite:<ref name="CathEncy"/>

*The "Biasca Sacramentary"; Bibl. Ambros., A. 24, bis inf., late ninth or early tenth century. Described by Delisle, "Anc. Sacr.", LXXI, edited by Ceriani in his "Monumenta Sacra et Profana", VIII, the Ordinary is analyzed and the Canon is given in full in Ceriani's "Notitia Lit. Ambr". 
*The "Lodrino Sacramentary"; Bibl. Ambr., A. 24, inf., eleventh century. Delisle, "Anc. Sacr.", LXXII. 
*The "Sacramentary of San Satiro", Milan; treasury of Milan Cathedral; eleventh century. Delisle, "Anc. Sacr.", LXXIII. 
*Sacramentary; treasury of Milan Cathedral; eleventh century. Delisle, "Anc. Sacr.", LXXIV. 
*The "Sacramentary of Armio", near the Lago Maggiore; treasury of Milan Cathedral; eleventh century. Delisle, 'Anc. Sacr.", LXXV. 
*Sacramentary belonging to the Marchese Trotti; eleventh century. Delisle, "Anc. Sacr.", LXXVI. 
*Sacramentary; Bibl. Ambros., CXX, sup., eleventh century. Delisle, "Anc. Sacr.", LXXVII. 
*The "Bergamo Sacramentary"; library of Sant' Alessandro in Colonna, Bergamo; tenth or eleventh century. Published by the Benedictines of Solesmes, "Auctarium Solesmense" (to Migne's Patrologia), "Series Liturgica", I. 
*Sacramentary; treasury of Monza Cathedral; tenth century. Delisle, "Anc. Sacr.", LXV. 
*"Sacramentary of San Michele di Venegono inferiore" (near Varese); treasury of Monza Cathedral; eleventh century. Delisle, "Anc. Sacr.", LXVIII. These two of Monza Cathedral are more fully described in Frisi's "Memorie storiche di Monza", III,75–77, 82–84.
*"Missale Ambrosianum", of Bedero (near Luino); Bibl. Ambr., D., 87 inf.; twelfth century. Noted by Magistretti in "Della nuova edizione tipica del messale Ambrosiano".

===Antiphoner===
*Antiphoner: "Antiphonarium Ambrosianum"; British Museum, Add. Manuscripts, 34,209; twelfth century; published by the Benedictines of Solesmes, with a complete facsimile and 200 pages of introduction by Paul Cagin, in "Paléographie musicale", V, VI.

===Manuals===
*"Manual of Lodrino;" Bibl. Ambr., SH. IV, 44; tenth or eleventh century. Imperfect. Described by Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", II, 18. 
*"Manuale Ambrosianum" belonging to the Marchese Trotti; tenth or eleventh century. Imperfect. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", II, 19. 
*"Manuale Ambrosianum"; Bibl. Ambr., CIII, sup.; tenth or eleventh century. Imperfect. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", II, 20. 
*"Manuale Ambrosianum"; from the Church of Cernusco (between Monza and Lecco); Bibl. Ambr., I, 55, sup.; eleventh century. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", II, 28. 
*"Manuale Ambrosianum"; from the Church of San Vittore al Teatro, Milan; Bibl. Ambr., A, 1, inf.; twelfth century. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", II, 22. 
*"Manuale Ambrosianum"; from the Church of Brivio (near the Lecco end of the Lake of Como); Bibl. Ambr., I, 27, sup.; twelfth century. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", II, 30.

===Rituals===
*"Liber Monachorum S. Ambrosii"; Bibl. Ambr., XCVI, sup.; eleventh century. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", II, 33, 79–93.
*"Rituale Ambrosianum", from the Church of S. Laurentiolus in Porta Vercellina, Milan; Sacrar. Metrop., H. 62; thirteenth century. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", II, 37, 143–171.
*Beroldus Novus"; Chapter Library, Milan; thirteenth century. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", 17, 94–142.
*"Asti Ritual"; Bibl, Mazarine, 525; tenth century. Described by Gastoué in "Rassegna Gregoriana", 1903. This, though from the old province of Milan, is not Ambrosian, but has bearings on the subject.
*Ceremonial: "Calendarium et Ordines Ecclesiæ Ambrosianæ"; Beroldus; Bibl, Ambr., I, 158, inf. twelfth century. Published by Magistretti, 1894.

===Pontificals===
*"Pontificale Mediolanensis Ecclesiæ"; Chapter Library, Milan; ninth century. Printed by Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", I 
*"Pontificale Mediolanensis Ecclesiæ"; Chapter Library, Milan; eleventh century. Magistretti, "Mon. Vet. Lit. Amb.", 1, 27. 
*"Ordo Ambrosianus ad Consecrandam Ecclesiam et Altare;" Chapter Library, Lucca; eleventh century. Printed by Mercati, "Studi e testi" (of the Vatican Library), 7.

===Ambrosian service-books===
Some editions of the printed Ambrosian service-books: 
*Missals: (Pre-Borromean) 1475, 1482, 1486, 1488, 1494, 1499, 1505, 1515, 1522, 1548, 1560; (St. Charles Borromeo) 1594; (F. Borromeo) 1609–18; (Monti) 1640; (Litta) 1669; (Fed. Visconti) 1692; (Archinti) 1712; (Pozzobonelli) 1751, 1768; (Fil. Visconti) 1795; (Gaisruck) 1831; (Ferrari) 1902.
*Breviaries: (Pre-Borromean) 1475, 1487, 1490, 1492, 1507, 1513, 1522, and many others; (St. Charles Borromeo), 1582, 1588; (Pozzobonelli) 1760; (Galsruck) 1841; (Romilli) 1857; (Ferrari) 1896, 1902. Rituals: n. d. circ., 1475 (a copy in Bodlwian), 1645, 1736, 1885. 
*Psalters: 1486, 1555. 
*Ceremonials: 1619, 1831. 
*Lectionary: 1660 
*Litanies: 1494, 1546, 1667.

The editions of the Missals, 1475, 1751, and 1902; Breviaries, 1582 and 1902; Ritual, 1645; both Psalters, both Ceremonials, the Lectionary, and Litanies are in the British Museum.<ref name="CathEncy"/>

==English translations==
*''We Give You Thanks and Praise.  The Ambrosian Eucharistic Prefaces.''  translated by Alan Griffiths, first published by The Canterbury Press, Norwich, (a publishing imprint of Hymn Ancient & Modern Limited, a registered charity) St. Mary's Woods, St. Mary Plain, Norwich, Norfolk.  This is an English translation of the two hundred proper prefaces at present used with the Eucharistic prayers of the Ambrosian Rite.
*''The Revised Divine Liturgy According to Our Holy Father Ambrose of Milan (Vols 1 and 2).'' by Bishop Michael Scotto-Daniello and published by Createspace/Amazon. This is a Missalette and a book of Prefaces for the Ambrosian Rite.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070726/http://rwrv.org/files/AmbrosianMass.pdf The Divine Liturgy of St. Ambrose], as authorized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

==See also==
*[[Ambrosians]]
*[[Rito della Nivola|Rite of the Nivola]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*{{cite book|title=Dizionario di Liturgia Ambrosiana|location=Milan|year=1996|edition=Marco Navoni|isbn=88-7023-219-0|last1=Navoni|first1=Marco}}
*{{cite book|last=Griffiths|first=Alan|title=We Give You Thanks and Praise|publisher=Canterbury Press|year=1999|isbn=1-58051-069-8}}
<!-- Rite before Vatican II -->
* A. Ratti / M. Magistretti, Missale Ambrosianum Duplex, Mediolani 1913
<!-- Present form: -->
* Missale Ambrosianum iuxta ritum Sanctae Ecclesiae Mediolanensis, ex decreto Sacrosancto OEcumenici Concilii Vaticani II instauratum, auctoritate Ioannis Colombo Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Presbyter Cardinalis Archiepiscopi Mediolanensis promulgatum, Mediolani 1981
* Messale Ambrosiano secondo il rito della santa Chiese di Milano. Riformato a norma dei decreti del Concilio Vaticano II. Promulgato dal Signor Cardinale Giovanno Colombo, arcivescovo di Milano, Milano 1976 
*{{cite book|title=Messale ambrosiano festivo|publisher=Piemme|year=1986|isbn=88-384-1421-1}}
* The Revised Divine Liturgy According to Our Holy Father Ambrose of Milan, Volume I.(2014) Createspace/Amazon {{ISBN|978-1497509573}} 
* The Revised Divine Liturgy According to Our Holy Father Ambrose of Milan, Volume II. (2014) Createspace/Amazon {{ISBN|978-1499652451}}

;Attribution
{{Catholic|wstitle=Ambrosian Liturgy and Rite |first=Henry |last=Jenner |volume=1}}

==External links==
*[https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01394a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia article]
*[http://www.unipiams.org/en/32 Ambrosian Rite resources] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022012942/http://www.unipiams.org/en/32 |date=2020-10-22 }}
*[http://www.cattoliciromani.com/forum/showthread.php/liturgia_ambrosiana-187.html?t=187 The Ambrosian Rite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121215435/http://www.cattoliciromani.com/forum/showthread.php/liturgia_ambrosiana-187.html?t=187 |date=2020-11-21 }} {{in lang|it}}
*[https://archive.org/details/ambrosianliturgy00cathuoft Ordinary of the Mass; English Translation published in 1909]

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