Matthew 2:9 (WEB)
They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was.
Catechism · 1
- §486Paragraph 2 · "Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary"Read at vatican.va
“The Father's only Son, conceived as man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, is "Christ", that is to say, anointed by the Holy Spirit, from the beginning of his human existence, though the manifestation of this fact takes place only progressively: to the shepherds, to the magi, to John the Baptist, to the disciples.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 1:20; 2:1-12; Lk 1:35; 2:8-20; Jn 1:3 1-34; 2:11.
Fathers and councils · 25
Tertullian
“Let those Eastern magi be believed, dowering with gold and incense the infancy of Christ as a king; and the infant has received “the power of Damascus” without battle and arms.” — editor's note: See Matt. ii. 1–12.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Thus, too, Herod, who himself also was a king, is [said there to be] afraid of the royal child, and to put so many little children to death in order to make sure that the one might be slain.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 1–18.
Read the whole comment“And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return unto Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 1–12.
Read the whole comment“Afterwards, when the things which had been done and said in the temple were made quite public, Herod perceived that he had been mocked; and then, in his desire to get at the death of Christ, he slew the multitude of children, as Matthew records.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 3–16.
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John Chrysostom
““And, lo! the star, which they saw in the east, went before them.”” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 9.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“This is why the angels glorified first the heavenly, then the earthly, why the shepherds saw the glory over the Lamb and the Shepherd, why the star led the Magi to worship and offer gifts, in order that idolatry might be destroyed.” — editor's note: S. Matt. ii. 9, 11.
Read the whole comment“It was Light that was the beauty of the Star that went before to Bethlehem to guide the Wise Men’s way, and to be the escort of the Light That is above us, when He came amongst us.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 9.
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Leo the Great
“Although I know, dearly-beloved, that you are fully aware of the purpose of to-day’s festival, and that the words of the Gospel have according to use unfolded it to you, yet that nothing may be omitted on our part, I shall venture to say on the subject what the Lord has put in my…” — editor's note: Secundum consuetudinem evangelicus sermo reseraverit. The Roman Gospel for the day was apparently then, as now with us, S. Matt. ii. 1–12: but the…
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Hippolytus of Rome
“I was known by my mother, and I was not announced by a star.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 9.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
As soon as Herod had heard the answer, though doubly authenticated, both by the authority of the Priests, and the passage from the Prophets, he yet turned not to worship the King that was to be born, but sought how…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Diligently enquired;” craftily, for he feared they would not return to him, and then he should know how he should do to put the young Child to death.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
The star had been seen, and with great wonder, nearly two years before. We are to understand that it was signified to them whose the star was, which was visible all that time till He, whom it signified, was born.…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the star appeared to them long time before, because the journey would take up some time, and they were to stand before Him immediately on His birth, that seeing Him in swaddling clothes, He might seem the more…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
According to others, the star was first seen on the day of the nativity, and having accomplished its end, ceased to be. Thus Fulgentius [margin note: Serm. de Epiph.] says, “The Boy at His birth created a new star.”…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Concerning the young Child,” he says, not ‘of the King;’ he envies Him the regal title.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
To induce them to do this, he put on the colour of devotion, beneath which he whetted the sword, hiding the malice of his heart under colour of humility. Such is the manner of the malicious, when they would hurt any…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
He feigns a wish of worshipping Him only that he may discover Him, and put him to death.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Magi obeyed the King so far as to seek the Lord, but not to return to Herod. Like in this to good hearers; the good they hear from wicked preachers, that they do; but do not imitate their evil lives.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
This passage shews, that when the star had brought the Magi nearly to Jerusalem, it was hidden from them, and so they were compelled to ask in Jerusalem, “where Christ should be born?” and thus to manifest Him to…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
To perform its due service to the Lord, it advanced slowly, leading them to the spot. It was ministering to Him, and not ruling His fate; its light shewed the suppliants and filled the inn, shed over the walls and…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
What wonder that a divine star should minister to the Sun of righteousness about to rise. It stood over the Child’s head, as it were, saying, ‘This is He;’ proving by its place what it had no voice to utter.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is evident that the star must have been in the air, and close above the house where the Child was, else it would not have pointed out the exact house.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Matthew
The star is the way, and the way is Christ; and according to the mystery of the incarnation, Christ is a star. He is a blazing and a morning-star. Thus where Herod is, the star is not seen; where Christ is, there it…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the star figures the grace of God, and Herod the Devil. He, who by sin puts himself in the Devil’s power, loses that grace; but if he return by repentance, he soon finds that grace again which leaves him not till…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the star is the illumination of faith, which leads him to the nearest aid; while they turn aside to the Jews, the Magi lose it; so those who seek counsel of the bad, lose the true light.
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