SIMPLICIANO, bishop of MILANO, saint. — Probably of Milanese origin, a presbyter at Milan and, from 397, successor of St. Ambrose in the episcopal see; he died on 15 July 400. He baptized St. Ambrose (Augustine, Conf., VIII, 2, 3) and assisted him.
Epistles (Epp. 37, 38, 65, 67) from Ambrose to S. have been preserved, whereas those from S. to Ambrose have been lost, as have those he wrote to St. Augustine, then still a presbyter, in which he exhorted him: «agitare ingenium et expositioni scripturarum vacare» (Gennadius, De viris illustr., 36 [37]). One epistle from Augustine to S. has been preserved (Ep., 37); moreover, St. Augustine dedicated to him the work De diversis quaestionibus ad Simplicianum libri, which he wrote in 396. In the fourth century S. was a leading figure, not only because of his relations with St. Augustine, but also because he had taken part in the conversion both of Augustine and of C. M. Vittorino (lv.) cf. Augustine, Conf., VIII, 11, 3). S., who had traveled extensively, was an erudite theologian and also acquainted with Neoplatonic philosophy. Pope Anastasius I (Ep. ad Simplician.: PL 20, 74) wanted to induce him to take measures against the adherents of Origen, but S. died before reaching a decision (400 or 401). Probably his decision would not have differed greatly from that of his successor Venerius, who, while condemning the errors of Origen, refused also to condemn Rufinus. There is an epistle of Vigilius of Trent (v.), In laudem martyrum, that is, of the martyrs of Trent, Sisinio and his companions (PL 20, 74), addressed to S., as well as synodal writings from Carthage (a. 397; cf. Manai, III, 891) and Toledo (a. 400; ibid., 945, 1007). S.’s tomb is located in the Basilica he built for the relics of St. Sisinio and his companions. Feast day: 16 August.