Thomas Aquinas · Catena Aurea · Chapter 21
Passages · 71
John 21:1–11
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:1–11 — The preceding words of the Evangelist seem to indicate the end of the book; but He goes on farther to give an account of our Lord’s appearance by the sea of Tiberias: After these things Jesus shewed Himself again to…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:1–11 — He says, Afterwards, because He did not go continually with His disciples as before; and, manifested Himself, because His body being incorruptible, it was a condescension to allow Himself to be seen. He mentions the…vatican.va
- Bede on John 21:1–11 — The Evangelist, after his wont, first states the thing itself, and then says how it took place: And on this wise shewed He Himself.vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:1–11 (2) — As our Lord was not with them regularly, and the Spirit was not given them, and they had received no commission, and had nothing to do, they followed the trade of fishermen: And on this wise shewed He Himself. There…vatican.va
- Gregory the Great on John 21:1–11 — It may be asked, why Peter, who was a fisherman before his conversion, returned to fishing, when it is said, No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62.).vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:1–11 (2) — If the disciples had done this after the death of Jesus, and before His resurrection, we should have imagined that they did it in despair. But now after that He has risen from the grave, after seeing the marks of His…vatican.va
- Gregory the Great on John 21:1–11 (2) — The craft which was exercised without sin before conversion, was no sin after it. Wherefore after his conversion Peter returned to fishing; but Matthew sat not down again for the receipt of custom (ad telonii…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:1–11 (3) — The other disciples followed Peter: They say unto him, We also go with thee; for from this time they were all bound together; and they wished too to see the fishing: They went forth and entered into a ship…vatican.va
- Gregory the Great on John 21:1–11 (3) — The fishing was made to be very unlucky, in order to raise their astonishment at the miracle after: And that night they caught nothing.vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:1–11 (4) — In the midst of their labour and distress, Jesus presented Himself to them: But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. He did not make Himself known to…vatican.va
- Bede on John 21:1–11 (2) — The Evangelist alludes to himself here the same way he always does. He recognised our Lord either by the miracle, or by the sound of His voice, or the association of former occasions on which He found them fishing.…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:1–11 — Peter’s girding himself is a sign of modesty. He girt himself with a linen coat, such as Thamian and Tyrian fishermen throw over them, when they have nothing else on, or even over their other clothes.vatican.va
- Bede on John 21:1–11 (3) — He went to Jesus with the ardour with which he did every thing: And did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship. We must not understand here that Peter walked on the top of the water,…vatican.va
- Glossa Ordinaria on John 21:1–11 — A parenthesis; for it follows, dragging the net with fishes. The order is, The other disciples came in a little ship, dragging the net with fishes.vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:1–11 (5) — Another miracle follows: As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. He no longer works upon already existing materials, but in a still more wonderful…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:1–11 (3) — We must not understand that the bread was laid on the coals, but read it as if it stood, They saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on the coals; and they saw bread.vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:1–11 (2) — To shew that it was no vision, He bade them take of the fish they had caught. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Another miracle follows; viz. that the net was not broken by the number…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:1–11 (4) — Mystically, in the draught of fishes He signified the mystery1 of the Church, such as it will be at the final resurrection of the dead. And to make this clearer, it is put near the end of the book. The number seven,…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:1–11 (3) — In the night time before the presence of the sun, Christ, the Prophets took nothing; for though they endeavoured to correct the people, yet these often fell into idolatry.vatican.va
- Gregory the Great on John 21:1–11 (4) — It may be asked, why after His resurrection He stood on the shore to receive the disciples, whereas before He walked on the sea? The sea signifies the world, which is tossed about with various causes of tumults, and…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:1–11 (5) — The shore is the end of the sea, and therefore signifies the end of the world. The Church is here typified as she will be at the end of the world, just as other draughts of fishes typified her as she is now. Jesus…vatican.va
- Bede on John 21:1–11 (4) — By the two hundred cubits is signified the twofold grace of love; the love of God and the love of our neighbour; for by them we approach to Christ. The fish broiled is Christ Who suffered. He deigned to be hid in the…vatican.va
- Gregory the Great on John 21:1–11 (5) — To Peter was the holy Church committed; to him is it specially said, Feed My sheep. That then which is afterwards declared by word, is now signified by act. He it is who draws the fishes to the firm shore, because he…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:1–11 (6) — In the draught before, the number of the fishes is not mentioned, as if in fulfilment of the prophecy in the Psalm, If I should declare them, and speak of them, they should be more than I am able to express; (Ps.…vatican.va
- Gregory the Great on John 21:1–11 (6) — Seven and ten multiplied by three make fifty-one. The fiftieth year was a year of rest to the whole people from all their work. In unity is true rest; for where division is, true rest cannot be.vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:1–11 (7) — It is not then signified that only a hundred and fifty-three saints are to rise again to eternal life, but this number represents all who partake of the grace of the Holy Spirit: which number too contains three…vatican.va
John 21:12–14
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:12–14 — The fishing being over, our Lord invites them to dine: Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:12–14 — John does not say that He ate with them, but Luke does. He ate however not to satisfy the wants of nature, but to shew the reality of His resurrection.vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:12–14 (2) — The bodies of the just, when they rise again, shall need neither the word of life that they die not of disease, or old age, nor any bodily nourishment to prevent hunger and thirst. For they shall be endowed with a…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:12–14 (3) — No one dared to doubt that it was He, much less deny it; so evident was it. Had any one doubted, he would have asked.vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:12–14 (2) — He means that they had not confidence to talk to Him, as before, but sat looking at Him in silence and awe, absorbed in regarding His altered and now supernatural form, and unwilling to ask any question. Knowing that…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:12–14 (4) — Mystically, the fried fish is Christ Who suffered. And He is the bread that came down from heaven. To Him the Church is united to His body for participation of eternal bliss. Wherefore He says, Bring of the fishes…vatican.va
- Gregory the Great on John 21:12–14 — By holding this last feast with seven disciples, he declares that they only who are full of the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit, shall be with Him in the eternal feast. Time also is reckoned by periods of seven…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:12–14 (3) — Inasmuch, however, as He did not converse with them regularly, or in the same way as before, the Evangelist adds, This is now the third time that Jesus shewed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:12–14 (5) — Which has reference not to manifestations, but to days; i. e. the first day after He had risen, eight days after that, when Thomas saw and believed, and this day at the draught of fishes; and thenceforward as often…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:12–14 (6) — We find in the four Evangelists ten occasions mentioned, on which our Lord was seen after His resurrection: one at the sepulchre by the women; a second by the women returning from the sepulchre; a third by Peter; a…vatican.va
John 21:15–17
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:15–17 — The dinner being ended, He commits to Peter the superintendence over the sheep of the world, not to the others: So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:15–17 — Our Lord asked this, knowing it: He knew that Peter not only loved Him, but loved Him more than all the rest.vatican.va
- Alcuin of York on John 21:15–17 — He is called Simon, son of John, John being his natural father. But mystically, Simon is obedience, John grace, a name well befitting him who was so obedient to God’s grace, that he loved our Lord more ardently than…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:15–17 (2) — While our Lord was being condemned to death, he feared, and denied Him. But by His resurrection Christ implanted love in his heart, and drove away fear. Peter denied, because he feared to die: but when our Lord was…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:15–17 — That which most of all attracts the Divine love is care and love for our neighbour. Our Lord passing by the rest, addresses this command to Peter: he being the chief of the Apostles, the mouth of the disciples, and…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:15–17 (3) — Well doth He say to Peter, Lovest thou Me (ἀγαπᾶς diligis), and Peter answer, Amo Te (φελῶ amo), and our Lord replies again, Feed My lambs. Whereby, it appears that amor and dilectio are the same thing: especially as…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:15–17 (2) — A third time He asks the same question, and gives the same command; to shew of what importance He esteems the superintendence of His own sheep, and how He regards it as the greatest proof of love to Him.vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:15–17 (2) — Thence is taken the custom of threefold confession in baptism.vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:15–17 (3) — The question asked for the third time disturbed him: Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? He was afraid perhaps of receiving a reproof again for professing to love more than he…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:15–17 (4) — He was grieved because he was asked so often by Him Who knew what He asked, and gave the answer. He replies therefore from his inmost heart; Thou knowest that I love Thee.vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:15–17 (5) — He says no more, He only replies what he knew himself; he knew he loved Him; whether any else loved Him he could not tell, as he could not see into another’s heart: (non occ.). Jesus saith unto him, Feed My sheep; as…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:15–17 (3) — There is a difference perhaps between lambs and sheep. The lambs are those just initiated, the sheep are the perfected.vatican.va
- Alcuin of York on John 21:15–17 (2) — To feed the sheep is to support the believers in Christ from falling from the faith, to provide earthly sustenance for those under us, to preach and exemplify withal our preaching by our lives, to resist adversaries,…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:15–17 (6) — They who feed Christ’s sheep, as if they were their own, not Christ’s, shew plainly that they love themselves, not Christ; that they are moved by lust of glory, power, gain, not by the love of obeying, ministering,…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:15–17 (7) — But unfaithful servants arose, who divided Christ’s flock, and handed down the division to their successors: and you hear them say, Those sheep are mine, what seekest thou with my sheep, I will not let thee come to…vatican.va
John 21:18–19
- John Chrysostom on John 21:18–19 — Our Lord having made Peter declare his love, informs him of his future martyrdom; an intimation to us how we should love: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst…vatican.va
- Origen on John 21:18–19 — It is not easy to find any ready to pass at once from this life; and so he says to Peter, When thou art old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hand.vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:18–19 — That is, shalt be crucified. And to come to this end, Another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. First He said what would come to pass, secondly, how it would come to pass. For it was not when…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:18–19 (2) — He says, Whither thou wouldest not, with reference to the natural reluctance of the soul to be separated from the body; an instinct implanted by God to prevent men putting an end to themselves. Then raising the…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:18–19 (2) — He who denied and loved, died in perfect love for Him, for Whom he had promised to die with wrong haste. It was necessary that Christ should first die for Peter’s salvation, and then Peter die for Christ’s Gospel.vatican.va
John 21:19–23
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:19–23 — Our Lord having foretold to Peter by what death he should glorify God, bids him follow Him. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me. Why does He say, Follow Me, to Peter, and not to the others who…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:19–23 — Peter hearing that he was to suffer death for Christ, asks whether John was to die: Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, Lord,…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:19–23 (2) — He calls himself the disciple whom Jesus loved, because Jesus had a greater and more familiar love for him, than for the rest; so that He made him lie on His breast at supper. In this way John the more commends the…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:19–23 (2) — i. e. Shall he not die?vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:19–23 (3) — Jesus saith unto him, What is that to thee? and He then repeats, Follow thou Me, as if John would not follow Him, because he wished to remain till He came; Then went this saying abroad among the disciples, that that…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:19–23 (3) — Or let him say, Christ did not deny that John was to die, for whatever is born dies; but said, I will that he tarry till I come, i. e. to live to the end of the world, and then he shall suffer martyrdom for Me. And…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:19–23 (4) — Or perhaps he will allow that John still lies in his sepulchre at Ephesus, but asleep, not dead; and will give us a proof, that the soil over his grave is moist and watery, owing to his respiration. But why should…vatican.va
- Glossa Ordinaria on John 21:19–23 — I will that he tarry, i. e. I will not that he suffer martyrdom, but wait for the quiet dissolution of the flesh, when I shall come and receive him into eternal blessedness.vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:19–23 (4) — When our Lord says to Peter, Follow Me, He confers upon him the superintendence over all the faithful, and at the same time bids him imitate Him in every thing, word and work. He shews too His affection for Peter;…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:19–23 — But if it be asked, How then did James assume the see of Jerusalem? I answer, that our Lord enthroned Peter, not as Bishop of this see, but as Doctor of the whole world: Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on John 21:19–23 (5) — Some have understood, Till I come, to mean, Till I come to punish the Jews who have crucified Me, and strike them with the Roman rod. For they say that this Apostle lived up to the time of Vespasian, who took…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:19–23 (2) — The Evangelist then corrects the opinion taken up by the disciples.vatican.va
John 21:24–25
- John Chrysostom on John 21:24–25 — John appeals to his own knowledge of these events, having been witness of them: This is the disciple which testifieth of these things. When we assert any undoubted fact in common life, we do not withhold our…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on John 21:24–25 — The which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written; meaning not the world had not space for them, but that the capacity of readers…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on John 21:24–25 (2) — This is said to shew the power of Him Who did the miracles; i. e. that it was as easy for Him to do them, as it is for us to speak of them, seeing He is God over all, blessed for ever.vatican.va
Scripture cited · 5 verses
Psalm 41:7 · Matthew 6:33 · Luke 5:4 · Luke 9:62 · Acts 2:32