Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Gregory of Nyssa
Or because at that time there were several others who were called by the same name, that there might be a plain way of distinguishing her, he mentions her father, and describes the quality of her parents.
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Evangelist dwells on the narrative about Anna, listing her father and tribe, so that we may know that he speaks the truth, since he invites, as it were, many witnesses who know her father and tribe.
Irenaeus
They also assert that by Anna, who is spoken of in the gospel [Luke 2:36] as a prophetess, and who, after living seven years with her husband, passed all the rest of her life in widowhood until she saw the Saviour, and recognised Him, and spoke of Him to all, was most plainly indicated Achamoth, who, having for a little while looked upon the Saviour with His associates, and dwelling all the rest of the time in the intermediate place, waited for Him till He should come again, and restore her to her proper consort. …
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
Therefore Simeon prophetized, the Virgin had prophesied, the one united in marriage had prophesied, and so too should the widow; so that neither the profession nor the sex may be lacking. And for this reason Anna is introduced with both the wages of widowhood and the character of such; so that she may be truly believed to have been worthy to announce the redeemer of all. Since we have described her merits elsewhere, when we exhorted widows, in this place as we hasten to other matters, we do not think it necessary to repeat. …
Bede
According to the mystical meaning, Anna signifies the Church, who at present is indeed a widow by the death of her Husband; the number also of the years of her widowhood marks the time of the Church, at which established in the body, she is separated from the Lord. …
Bonaventure
And there was Anna, a prophetess, etc. After the testimony of the male sex, there follows here the testimony of the female sex. For it was fitting that the coming of Christ should have testimony from every kind of person, so that those who do not believe the Gospel may be without excuse. Hence Christ had testimony both angelic and human, and again with respect to the simple and the perfect, and again among the perfect in both sexes, to show that both sexes pertained to redemption, just as both had fallen. …
Translation