when the mass of paul vi was issued in 1969, most ambrosian-rite priests began to use the new roman missal (only omitting the "agnus dei"), the roman lectionary, and the general roman calendar (with its four-week advent). the ambrosian form of administering the other sacraments was for the most part already identical with the roman. this made it uncertain whether the ambrosian rite would survive. but in promulgating the documents of the 46th diocesan synod (1966–1973), cardinal archbishop giovanni colombo, supported by pope paul vi (a former archbishop of milan), finally decreed that the ambrosian rite, brought into line with the directives of the second vatican council, should be preserved.