So In 384 A.D. Augustine applied for the vacant chair of professorship at the Imperial Court at Milan and was accepted by the prefect Symmachus. This was a prestigious position since at this time Milan was the capital of the Western Roman Empire.
It was in this city that Augustine met bishop Ambrose but could not have a long conversation with him. He was impressed by his eloquence and so went every Sunday to listen to his sermons. Before this time, Augustine thought looked upon Old Testament as nonsense because he read it literally, but now Augustine heard Ambrose reveal the spiritual meaning of scripture. He says; "With joy I heard Ambrose in his sermons to the people oftentimes most diligently recommend this text as a rule, 'The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.'" (Conf. 6.6.6)
One day Augustine went to see Simplicianus, the father of Ambrose, and told him of his intellectual wanderings and that he had read certain books of the Platonists. Simplicianus was delighted, because as he told Augustine, the Platonists in many way lead to the belief in God and His Word.
Meantime, Monica was pressuring Augustine to marry and a suitable maiden was asked in marriage but she was underage so had to wait for two years.
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