Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 9:39

Western Saints

Bede

And behold, a spirit seizes him, and suddenly he cries out, and it convulses him and scatters him with foam, and scarcely departs tearing him. This demoniac, whom the Lord healed descending from the mountain, Matthew describes as lunatic, Mark as deaf and mute. They signify those of whom it is written: "The fool changes like the moon" (Eccl. XXVII), who never remain in the same state, now changed to these, now to other vices, waxing and waning, mute in not confessing their faith, deaf in not in any way hearing the word of faith.

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

Thirdly, he adds the violence of the besieging demon, when he adds: And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out: from which it appears that the demon was afflicting him with a sudden affliction; whence in Matthew seventeen it is said of this same boy: "Have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and suffers grievously and often falls into water and frequently into fire"; whence such an infirmity was sudden, as is the infirmity of those seized by demons. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9 ↗