Luke 15:11 (WEB)
He said, “A certain man had two sons.
Catechism · 3
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
“The process of conversion and repentance was described by Jesus in the parable of the prodigal son, the center of which is the merciful father:” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 15:11-24.
The Dignity of the Human Person
“With the help of grace they grow in virtue (article 7), avoid sin, and if they sin they entrust themselves as did the prodigal son” — Catechism footnote: Lk 15:11-32.
The Seven Petitions
“Now, in this new petition, we return to him like the prodigal son and, like the tax collector, recognize that we are sinners before him.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 15:11-32, 18:13.
Fathers and councils · 35
Irenaeus of Lyons
“…allow a kid to his elder son; but for him who had been lost, [namely] his younger son, he ordered the fatted calf to be killed, and he gave him the best robe.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 11.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Of which sort is that concerning the two sons of one man, the elder who tarried with his father, and the younger who went into a far country, which is narrated so much at length.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 11–32
Read the whole comment“A kind Father when Thou gavest, and kinder still when he returned destitute!” — editor's note: Luke xv. 11–32.
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Jerome
“I am the prodigal son who although I have squandered all the portion entrusted to me by my father, have not yet bowed the knee in submission to him; not yet have I commenced to put away from me the allurements of my former excesses.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 11–32.
Read the whole comment“Yet, when he comes back to his father, the fatted calf is killed, a robe and a ring are given to him.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 11–24.
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Tertullian
“That prodigal son also the father’s patience receives, and clothes, and feeds, and makes excuses for, in the presence of the angry brother’s impatience.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 11–32.
Read the whole comment“That most gentle father, likewise, I will not pass over in silence, who calls his prodigal son home, and willingly receives him repentant after his indigence, slays his best fatted calf, and graces his joy with a banquet.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 11–32.
Read the whole comment“All chap. xv. after the 10th verse, in which is contained the parable of the prodigal son, he eliminated from his Gospel.” — the author cites it
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Clement of Alexandria
“For it were not seemly that we, after the fashion of the rich man’s son in the Gospel, should, as prodigals, abuse the Father’s gifts; but we should use them, without undue attachment to them, as having command over ourselves.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 11.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
St. Luke has given three parables successively; the sheep which was lost and found, the piece of silver which was lost and found, the son who was dead and came to life again, in order that invited by a threefold…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
There is also in the above-mentioned parable a rule of distinction with reference to the characters or dispositions of the sinners. The father receives his penitent son, exercising the freedom of his will, so as to…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
But some say that by the elder son is signified Israel according to the flesh, but by the other who left his father, the multitude of the Gentiles.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
This man then having two sons is understood to be God having two nations, as if they were two roots of the human race; and the one composed of those who have remained in the worship of God, the other, of those who…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
The substance of man is the capacity of reason which is accompanied by free will, and in like manner whatever God has given us shall be accounted for our substance, as the heaven, the earth, and universal nature, the…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Now you see that the Divine patrimony is given to them that seek; nor think it wrong in the father that he gave it to the younger, for no age is weak in the kingdom of God; faith is not weighed down by years. He at…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
The younger son set out into a distant country, not locally departing from God, who is every where present, but in heart. For the sinner flees from God that he may stand afar off.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Whoever wishes to be so like to God as to ascribe his strength to Him, (Ps. 59:9.) let him not depart from Him, but rather cleave to Him that he may preserve the likeness and image in which he was made. But if he…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
But that which is said to have taken place not many days after, namely, that gathering all together he set out abroad into a far country, which is forgetfulness of God, signifies that not long after the institution…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
One of the citizens of that country was a certain prince of the air belonging to the army of the devil, whose fields signify the manner of his power, concerning which it follows, And he sent him into the field to…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
But to feed swine is to work those things in which the unclean spirits delight. It follows, And he would have filled his belly with the husks which the swine did eat. The husk is a sort of bean, empty within, soft…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
The husks then with which the swine were fed are the teaching of the world, which cries loudly of vanity; according to which in various prose and verse men repeat the praises of the idols, and fables belonging to the…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
But since the Jews are frequently reproved in holy Scripture for their many crimes, how agree with this people the words of the elder son, saying, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any…
Read the whole comment - Basil the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
Besides, it belongs more to the character of the aged to have an old man’s mind and gravity, than his hoar hairs, nor is he blamed who is young in age, but it is the young in habits who lives according to his passions.
Read the whole comment - Titus of BostraCatena Aurea on Luke
The younger son then went away not yet matured in mind, and seeks from his father the part of his inheritance which fell to him, that in truth he might not serve of necessity. For we are rational animals endowed with…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
Now the Scripture says, that the father divided equally between his two sons his substance, that is, the knowledge of good and evil, which is a true and everlasting possession to the soul that uses it well. The…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
For what is more afar off than to depart from one’s self, to be separate not by country but by habits. For he who severs himself from Christ is an exile from his country, and a citizen of this world. Fitly then does…
Read the whole comment - Titus of BostraCatena Aurea on Luke
Hence too was the prodigal denominated one who wasted his substance, that is, his right understanding, the teaching of chastity, the knowledge of the truth, the recollections of his father, the sense of creation.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Now there came to pass in that country a famine not of food but of good works and virtues, which is the more wretched fast. For he who departs from the word of God is hungry, because man does not live on bread alone,…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
For to be sent to the farm is to be enthralled by the desire of worldly substance.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
But he feeds those swine into whom the devil sought to enter, living in filth and pollution. (Matt. 8, Mark 2, Luke 8.)
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
There then he feeds, who surpassed others in vice, such as are panders, arch-robbers, arch-publicans, who teach others their abominable works.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
Or he who is destitute of spiritual riches, as wisdom and understanding, is said to feed swine, that is, to nourish in his soul sordid and unclean thoughts, and he devours the material food of evil conversation,…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
But he desired to fill his belly with the husks. For the sensual care for nothing else but to fill their bellies.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
To whom no one gives a sufficiency of evil; for he is afar from God who lives on such things, and the devils do their best that a satiety of evil should never come.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Luke
Or no one gave to him, because when the devil makes any one his own, he procures no further abundance for him, knowing him to be dead.
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Cross-references · 5
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 15:11–16 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 15:11–16 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 15:11–16 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 15:11–16 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 15:11–16 (4) (Catena Aurea).