In 2021, the second Tuesday in Advent is also the feast day of Saint Ambrose of Milan (7 December), and to him is attributed the hymn Veni redemptor gentium.
Latin and English Translations at Hymns and Carols of Christmas
Recording of “Come Thou Redeemer of the Earth” by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles
Modern Hagiography
Roman Martyrology (see also 4 April)
Lives of the Saints by Alban Butler.
Lives of Saints by Francis Weninger.
Lives of the Saints by Sabine Baring-Gould.
The Liturgical Year by Dom Guéranger.
Our Birthday Bouquet Culled from the Shrines of the Saints and the Gardens of the Poets by Eleanor C. Donnelly.
Pictorial Half Hours with the Saints by Auguste François Lecanu.
Miniature Lives Of The Saints For Every Day In The Year by Henry Sebastian Bowden.
Short Instructive Sketches from the Lives of the Saints
Stories of the Saints for Children: The Black Letter Saints by Mrs. Molesworth.
Stories of the Saints Fourth Series Saints of the Early Church by Mary Seymour.
Memorials of the Blessed: A Series of Short Lives of the Saints by Charles B. Fairbanks.
The lives of saints, with other feasts of the year, according to the Roman calendar by Peter Ribadeneira.
Contemporary & Medieval Hagiography
The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity Database
There is a Life of Ambrose by Paulinus Nola and a 1928 translation, but it is only available in a recent print publication. (it should be in the public domain, but it is not yet available). Here it is in Latin in a 15th-century manuscript. You can listen to a reading of a section of the life here, with mostly relevant images.
The Golden Legend (and illustrations)
Breviarium Romanum – Latin & English
Writings by Ambrose
Ambrose: Selected Works and Letters from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library in pdf and html.
Saint Ambrose: Theological and Dogmatic Works from the Fathers of the Church.
The Letters of Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
Augustine on Theodosius’s subsequent penance
Letter on the Finding of the Relics of Saints Gervasius and Protasius
You can also read about Ambrose and their relics in Saint Augustine’s Confessions (scroll down to 9.7).
On Holy Virginity, selection on Mary
The Church of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan
The Church of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan, originally constructed by Saint Ambrose and his eventual resting place, contains several images of Saint Ambrose.
The earliest image is in a side chapel dedicated to Saint Vincent, called the Chapel of San Vittore in Ciel d’oro. Ambrose died in 397, and the mosaics in this chapel date to fifth century. It is not a contemporary portrait, but in the grand scheme of the Middle Ages, it seems very nearly.
The teacher or an older student may read more about the Chapel of San Vittore in Ciel d’oro, either now or on the feast day of Saint Vincent, here and here (you may read this free online by setting up an account).
From the ninth century, the Golden Altar in Sant’Ambrogio presents a cycle of Christ’s life in gold on the front and a cycle of Saint Ambrose’s life in silver on the back. The most accessible information comes from the entry about it on the Italian Wikipedia website. Within Chrome, right click on any blank area in the page, and select “Translate to English.” The teacher or older students interested in art history may read more here.
The Ottonian ciborium over the altar preserves on one of its four sides a relief of Saint Ambrose with Saints Protasius and Gervasius, but I am still looking for a good image of this side. Likewise, the later medieval mosaic in the apse shows scenes from the life of Saint Ambrose, but good photographs are a challenge to find.
Art & Architecture
Catalogo generale dei beni culturali
POP : la plateforme ouverte du patrimoine
Guide to Christian Iconography: Images, Symbols, and Texts
Life of St. Ambrose Online Exhibition
Antony Van Dyck, Saint Ambrose Barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral
Post-Biblical Saints Art Index
Sacred and Legendary Art volume I by Mrs. Jameson.
A Handbook of Christian Symbols and Stories of the Saints as Illustrated in Art by Clara Erskine Clement.
A Garner of Saints: Being a Collection of the Legends and Emblems Usually Represented in Art by Allen Hinds.
Lives and Legends of the Great Hermits and Fathers of the Church, with Other Contemporary Saints by Mrs. Arthur Bell.
The Saints in Art with Their Attributes and Symbols, Alphabetically Arranged by Margaret E. Tabor.
Saints and their Symbols: A Companion in the Churches and Picture Galleries of Europe by E. A. Greene.
Sacred Symbols in Art by Elizabeth Edwards Goldsmith.
The Saints in Art by Joseph Maria von Radowitz.
Emblems of Saints by Which They Are Distinguished in Works of Art by F. C. Husenbeth.
Medieval Religion Listserve – 2016 Dillon1, 2016 Dillon2.
Music
To Saint Ambrose is attributed the hymn Veni redemptor gentium (the words in Latin, scroll down for a list of all the versions in English; the German hymn; chant – contemporary beat – from Advent at Ephesus).
Other hymns written by Saint Ambrose
Cantus: A Database for Latin Ecclesiastical Chant
Customs & Devotions
Manna for the Soul: Meditations for Every Day of the Year by Paulo Segneri.
This hymn is not Catholic in origin or use, but was inspired by the Dies irae and so makes a good follow up to the Second Sunday in Advent.
A Catholic Analysis of the Words by Monsignor Charles Pope, and a defense of Catholics singing this hymn by Father Dwight Longenecker
Nihil sub sole novum 
