Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 7:2

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"It is better," we read, "to go into the house of mourning, than into the house of laughter." But, likely enough, you do not like the saying, and want to evade it. Let us however see, what sort of man Adam was in Paradise, and what he was afterwards: what sort of man Cain was before, and what he was afterwards. …

Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily 16 ↗

Western Saints

Bonaventure

"It is better to go to the house of mourning," where sins are mourned, because Matthew 5: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled"; "than to the house of feasting," where delights are found: Proverbs 23: "Do not be among the banquets of drunkards." And the reason for this is: because in banquets man forgets himself, in the house of mourning he remembers his judgment: and therefore he adds: "For in that," namely in the house of mourning, "the end of all men is brought to mind": Sirach 38: "Remember my judgment: for …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 ↗