Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 27:61

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre." For what purpose do these wait by it? As yet they knew nothing great, as was meet, and high about Him, wherefore also they had brought ointments, and were waiting at the tomb, so that if the madness of the Jews should relax, they might go and embrace the body. Seest thou women's courage? seest thou their affection? seest thou their noble spirit in money? their noble spirit even unto death? …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 88 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary," that is, the Theotokos, who above was called the mother of James and Joses, were sitting opposite the tomb and waiting for the frenzy of the Jews to subside, so that they could go and embrace the Body and anoint it with myrrh. Isaiah spoke concerning these women, "Ye women coming from the sight, come hither; for this is a people without understanding" (Is. 27:11). …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

Now there was there Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, sitting opposite the sepulchre. And on the next day, which followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying: Lord, we remember that that seducer said, while he was yet alive: After three days I will rise again. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then the devotion of the women follows. Hence the women, who loved more ardently, followed him all the way to the tomb: hence it says "there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary": and Mary the wife of Zebedee is not named, because she was not there, because she did not love as ardently.

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Remigius of Rheims

When the Lord's body was buried, and the rest returned to their own places, the women alone, who had loved Him more attachedly adhered to Him, and with anxious care noted the place where the Lord's body was laid, that at fit time they might perform the service of their devotion to him. And to this day the holy women, that is, the lowly souls of the saints, do the like in this present world, and with pious assiduity wait while Christ's passion is being completed.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗