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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Cyril of Alexandria
Now Peter did not dare to weep openly, lest he should be detected by his tears, but he went out and wept. Ho wept not because of punishment, but because he denied his beloved Lord, which was more galling than any punishment.
Theophylact of Ohrid
Mark says that Peter went out even after the first denial (Mark 14:68). Then it was natural for him to go back in again, so as not to arouse greater suspicion that he was one of Jesus' followers. But when he came to his senses again, he then goes out and weeps bitterly. And so as not to be noticed by those who were in the courtyard, he goes out secretly from them. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
By saying that Peter did penance, we have to take care not to think that he did it as those who are properly called penitents now do it in the church. Who could bear it that we should think the first of the apostles was numbered among such penitents? …
Ambrose of Milan
Why did he weep? Because guilt overtook him: I am accustomed to weeping, if guilt is lacking to me, that is, if I do not avenge myself, if I do not obtain what I wickedly desire. Peter was grieved and wept; because he erred as a man. I do not find what he said, I find that he wept: I read his tears, I do not read satisfaction: but what cannot be defended, can be washed away. Tears wash away the sin, which shame is too modest to confess with words. And tears seek both forgiveness and modesty. …
Gregory the Dialogist
For I consider Peter, I reflect upon the thief, I look at Zacchaeus, I gaze upon Mary, and I see nothing else in these except examples of hope and repentance placed before our eyes. For perhaps someone has fallen in faith; let him look to Peter, who wept bitterly because he had denied out of fear. Did he not hold Peter in his mouth when he denied? But when he returned to life through repentance, this Leviathan in a certain way lost him as if through the hole in his jaw.
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