How did St. Ambrose speak against social abuses in his sermons?

St. Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, utilized his sermons as a platform to address and denounce social abuses of his time. Specifically, he is noted for his sermon titled De Nabuthe ("On Naboth"), in which he spoke out against such injustices.1

Beyond his direct denunciations of social misconduct, Ambrose frequently used his position to advocate for the vulnerable, often securing pardons for those who had been condemned. His approach to moral instruction was rigorous; he promoted a life of asceticism and famously urged noble families to embrace the virtue of virginity, a stance that was sometimes met with reluctance by those families. Through these sermons, which were acclaimed for their Latin eloquence, Ambrose sought to provide an "impeccably classical" version of Christianity that replaced traditional Roman heroes with Old Testament figures as models for the Christianized aristocracy.1