Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 21:8

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

The present event is no small matter, but an important one, because a great quantity of fish was caught, and yet the net did not tear.

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

The other disciples remained on the boat. First, the Evangelist mentions what they did, the other disciples came in the boat, because they were not as ardent as Peter. The boat signifies the Church: "The hope of the world took refuge on a raft, and guided by your hand left to the world the seed of a new generation" (Wis 14:6). This text refers to the Church as we see from 1 Peter (3:20). …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

According to the spiritual understanding: fishermen fishing by night caught nothing; when morning came, Jesus appeared, and they filled the nets, and being two hundred cubits distant from land, they drew in the nets. — The fishermen are preachers; Jeremiah 16: Behold, I will send many fishers, and they shall fish them; and Matthew 4: Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. …

Commentary on John, Chapter 21 ↗

Glossa Ordinaria

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.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗