Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 3:2

Western Saints

Jerome

"A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to uproot that which has been planted." No one doubts that men are born and die, and God knows that what he has planted will grow full and well; for to pull out what has been planted is to die. But since we read in Isaiah [Is. 26, 18.] "we have conceived, laboured with and given birth out of a fear for You", this must be said, because when a man is ready, that man in particular, who was born from fear, will die as soon as he has begun to love God. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Bonaventure

A time to be born. Above he set forth the general proposition; here he proves it by induction in particular cases, showing the diverse varieties of times in things. And this part has four parts. First is touched upon the variety of times which regards rise and decline. Second, that which regards state, at: A time to weep and a time to laugh. Third, that which regards use, at: A time to embrace. Fourth, that which regards the manner of proper conduct, at: A time to keep silence. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 ↗