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VRSZ
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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Western Saints
Jerome
Now the number of those who ate was five thousand men, besides women and children. According to the number of five loaves and the multitude of five thousand men who ate, it had not yet reached the seven-fold number according to another account, of whom there are four thousand who eat, close to the number of the Gospels. But those who ate were five thousand men who had grown into full maturity, and they followed him of whom Zacharias says: Behold the man, his name is the Rising Sun. …
Hilary of Poitiers
The same number of those eating proved to be the number of those who believed. As noted in the book of Acts, out of the countless people of Israel five thousand men believed. Once the people had been satisfied, when they took up the loaves that had been broken into pieces with the fish, there was enough left over to match the number of believers and apostles to be filled with heavenly grace. Thus both the measure suited the number and the number the measure. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then the number of those who ate is presented: and the number of those who ate was five thousand men, so that one thousand ate from each loaf, according to Hilary. This also happened after the Ascension, when at the voice of the apostles five thousand were converted in one day. Besides women and children, who are unknowing, and are not worthy to be counted. A similar thing is found in the Book of Maccabees, that children and women are not counted for battle. …
Translation