Manna And Bread

Ambrosius Ireneaus, salutem. Quaeris a me cur Dominus Deus manna pluerit populo patrum, et nunc non pluat. Si cognoscis, pluit, et quotidie pluit de coelo manna servientibus sibi. Et corporeum quidem illud manna hodie plerisque in locis invenitur, sed nunc non est tanti res miraculi; quia venit quod perfectum est. Perfectum autem panis de coelo, corpus ex Virgine, de quo satis Evangelium te docet. Quanto praestantiora haec superioribus? Illud enim manna, hoc est, panem illum qui manducaverunt, mortui sunt: hunc autem panem qui manducaverit, vivet in aeternum. Sed est spiritale manna, hoc est, pluvia spiritalis sapientiae, quae ingeniosis et quaerentibus de coelo infunditur, et irrorat mentes piorum, et obdulcat fauces eorum. Qui igitur intellexerit infusionem divinae sapientiae, delectatur, nec alium cibum requirit, nec in solo pane vivit, sed in omni verbo Dei. Qui curiosior fuerit, quaerit quid sit istud quod melle dulcius sit. Respondet illi minister Dei: Hic est panis, quem dedit tibi Deus manducare. Quid sit iste panis, audi: Sermo, inquit, quem ordinavit Deus. Haec ergo ordinatio Dei, haec alimonia alit animam sapientis, et illuminat atque obdulcat, resplendens veritatis corusco, et mulcens tamquam favo quodam, ita diversarum virtutum suavitate et sermone sapientiae: Favi enim mellis sermones sunt boni, sicut scriptum est in Proverbiis Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, Epistola LXIV Source: Migne PL 16.1219b-1220b

Ambrose to Ireneaus, Greetings. You ask me why the Lord God rained manna on the people of the fathers but now He does not. If you consider it, every day He does rain manna from heaven on those who serve Him. The material manna is to this very day found in many places, but it is not now a miraculous event because that which is perfect has come. The Bread from heaven is perfect, the body from the Virgin, concerning which the Gospel sufficiently teaches us. How greatly does this excel what went before it? For those who ate that manna or bread are dead, but he who shall eat this bread shall live for ever. 1 But there is a spiritual manna, that is, the rain of spiritual wisdom, which is poured out from heaven on those who sincerely seek it, and which waters the minds of the righteous, and puts sweetness in their throats. Therefore, he who understands this infusion of Divine wisdom has joy in it, and he does not seek any other food, nor does he live on bread alone, but on every word of God. 2 He who is more curious will ask what it is that is sweeter than honey. The servant of God answers him, 'This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.' And hear what this bread is, 'The word which the Lord has commanded.' 3 Therefore this food commanded by God nourishes the soul of those who are wise, illuminating and sweetening and brightening with the beams of truth, and caressing like the honeycomb with the sweetness of many virtues and the word of wisdom; for good words are like a honeycomb, as it is written in the Proverbs. 4 Saint Ambrose, from Letter 64 1 Jn 6.5 2 Mt 4.4 3 Exod 16.15-16 4 Prov 16.24