Annotatio IV §.VIII: Ambrose — consecration’s change in the symbols is only spiritual
Ambrose (De Sacr. 4.4), late in the century, agrees: every change that consecration works in the Supper’s symbols is only spiritual.
You yourself were an old creature; after consecration you begin to be a new one. Ordinary bread before the blessing-words; when consecration comes, from bread is made Christ’s body.
Latin
Athanasio adstipulatur Rhetorum Sacrorum, circa exitum ejus Seculi, disertissimus, videl. S. AMBROSIUS, mutationem omnem quæ in symbola S. Cœnæ, per consecrationem eorum, competit, nonnisi spiritualem esse indigitans, Lib. 4. de Sacram. cap. 4. Tu ipse, inquit, eras, sed Vetus Creatura, postquam consecratus es, nova creatura esse cœpisti. Et iterum: Tu fortè dices, panis meus usitatus est; sed panis iste panis est, ante verba benedictionis sacramentorum, ubi accesserit consecratio, de pane fit corpus Christi.