Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 12:5

Western Saints

Jerome

"Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way. "That is, they will not be able to enter on difficult tasks and with tired knees and frightened footsteps, will not be able to go out in the open, and will fear the offence of steps." And the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets. "The speech now explains the limbs of a man of the Church through a metaphor. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Bonaventure

He adds the signs of debilitation, which are four: tremor of the body, whiteness of the head, swelling of the belly, and cooling of desire. The first sign of infirmity in the old person is tremor of the body; on account of which he says: "They shall also fear the heights and be afraid in the way," that is, all the members of the body shall become tremulous: and this is a sign of the dissolution and diminution of the retentive power of the members, which is unable to hold the members steady: and therefore it is compelled to …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 ↗