Marian Interpretation
The woman and the dragon 1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered. 3 And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns: and on his head seven diadems: 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered; that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her a thousand two hundred sixty days. (Rev. 12:1-6) Catechism Footnotes 12 1138; 12:1 woman: Now some commentators have explained that the woman is our Blessed Lady, the Lady Mary, the mother of the Lord. Other commentators, who are among the greatest of the learned teachers of the Church, have explained that the woman is the Church. But there is no disagreement about this. For many things are applicable to Our Lady, because of the Incarnation. For the Lord became completely incarnate from her. Also these words may be applicable to the holy, universal and apostolic Church and the establishment of the community. (Bulus al-Bushi) We see Mary, on the one hand, as the exalted woman in the midst of visible creation, and on the other, as the one who continues to take part in the spiritual battle for the victory of good over evil. (Pope John Paul II Ep Priest Holy Thur 7) For this reason, Jesus Christ, our Lord Himself, calls her a woman. John 19:26 says, 'Woman, behold your son' while hanging on the cross. Also John 2:4, 'Woman, what is that to me and to you?' (Hugh of St. Cher) woman clothed with the sun: Here John describes the Lord's mother, the Virgin. In this way, she is exempt from all sin, because she had no spot or darkness. (St. Albert the Great) Mary is clothed with the Sun of Righteousness contained in her womb. (Oecumenius) Wholly surrounded with her Son's glory. (St. Francis of Sales Tr Love of God 3.8) Mary, clothed with the sun, in the day of her Assumption, that is, surrounded by the congregation of the saints... Or, that is, the glorification put on the body of Mary, which consists of four gifts, namely, brightness, agility, subtlety, impassibility, all of which are signified in the sun... Sirach 26:21, 'As the sun when it rises to the world in the high places of God, so is the beauty of a good woman for the ornament of her house.' Mary illumines Heaven, which is the house of God, and of His children, the house in which there are many mansions, as stated in John 14, of which He has chosen a higher and more noble and more beautiful lady, our holy Mary. Therefore, our Lady, our holy Mary, above all creatures, exalted in Heaven. For Psalm 8:1 says, 'For your magnificence is elevated above the heavens.' That is, Mary is glorified over the angels... Or, that is, the Blessed Mary adorned with a very bright and deep purity... Clearest and deep virginal chastity... Or her entire freedom from sin. (Hugh of St. Cher) Allegorically this is the Blessed Virgin, who is blessed above all women, which bore the Author of salvation. Clothed with, that is, adorned with the Sun, namely, Christ, who adorned her with Himself... Of this the blessed Bernard says in one of his sermons, 'Mary's presence brightens the whole world, so greatly does Heaven shine, lightened up by brilliance.' (St. Thomas Aquinas) moon under her feet: The Lord put every defect under the Blessed Virgin Mary, and perfected all that was good in her. As noted, moon under her feet, that is, every defect and imperfection. Thus the Blessed Virgin Mary has been able to say, 'The Lord rules me: and I shall want nothing, He has set me in a place of pasture.' Or the moon is the whole Church Militant, which serves under her... Or, over the whole Church and all it deficiencies. Now there are four things that generate a lack of man. First, there is pride... Second, there is impatience... Third, there is greed... Fourth, there is vanity. (Hugh of St. Cher) Also because the Virgin renounced all things that are worldly, by poverty which she loved, and the renunciation of earthly things. (St. Albert the Great) The moon is the Church, because it was illuminated by the sun just as the Church was illuminated by Christ. (St. Isidore of Seville) Or the world, is beneath her feet to show her contempt for earthly glory. (Caesarius of Heisterbach Dia Mir 7.1) twelve stars: 12 apostles. (Oecumenius) crowned with the Saints (St. Francis of Sales) 'Stars' being a good term, because she gives off a clear and sublime goodness. Therefore these words exalt the universal Queen, insofar as her lovely beauty, unchangeable holiness, and admirable dignity. (St. Thomas Aquinas) That is to say, the fullness of grace and virtue. (St. Albert the Great) Or, they mean the twelve fruits of the tree of life, which in her mind are twelve everlasting joys. Two of these arise from the Lord, that is joy of the vision of His Godhead, and the joy of the vision of His humanity. Also another two from where she is at in Heaven, one from its beauty, the other from its vastness. Again, two from her company. One being in communion with the angels, the other being in communion of people. Also, another two from the world. One of the beauty of what's created, and another of the stability of creatures. Also two from Hell, one being her deliverance from it, the other it being closed from her. Also another two is of her own, one being the robe of her body, the other being the garment of her soul. (Hugh of St. Cher) 12:2 cried travailing in birth: That is, at the moment of the Passion, she cried through sympathy. Travailing, that is, like being in the condition of a woman in labor when He was being martyred on the Cross, as Luke 2:35 says, 'And your own soul a sword shall pierce.' (St. Albert the Great) Gregory of Nyssa, who talks about the Lord in his Homily on Songs 13, says, 'Jesus, whose conception is without intercourse, and whose birth is undefiled.' Therefore the birth was free from pain. If such a great teacher of the Church says this, and the Virgin has escaped the pain of giving birth, how is it that she is travailing? Does this contradict what was said? Not at all... Until the divine angel told Joseph about her, that she conceived of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin was naturally disheartened, and embarrassed before her betrothed, and thinking that he might somehow suspect that she was in labor from a secret relationship. Therefore the text says, under the rule of metaphor, 'cried travailing.' (Oecumenius) And she cries out, with wonder, saying: 'How shall this be, seeing I know not man?' Travailing in birth, that is to say, when she obeyed, it was without prejudice and with all virginity. Travailing, that is, submitting anxiously, preserving her virginity. (Hugh of St. Cher) in pain: That was her burning desire to have His pain end while He was suffering. (St. Albert the Great) Or she suffers because the "ancient serpent" wishes to devour "the child". (Pope John Paul II MULIERIS DIGNITATEM 30) Or, that is, by fasting, by vigils and prayers, abstinence, continence, and anything else of this kind of chastity. (Hugh of St. Cher) 12:3 great red dragon: In this way the account is hitting at Satan, the prince of evil, because, although he was a heavenly being, on account of his rebellion he has become an earthbound crawler. He depicts him in heaven so that the apostate might know from what state he has fallen and where he now is. He calls Satan a dragon because he is crooked. For that is what Isaiah 27:1 says too, saying, 'against the serpent, the crooked snake.' He is red because he is blood-sucking and ill-tempered. (Oecumenius) seven heads: The prophet knew well enough that he is many-headed. So he says of God, 'You crushed the heads of the serpent; you gave him as food for the peoples of Ethiopia (Ps 73:13-14).' They say that he is many-headed since seven indicates many (as has been said more than once) as one who makes many crafty starts and designs against humankind by which he enslaves them. (Oecumenius) ten horns: This symbolizes his immense power. For ten is a perfect number, and the horn is a sign of power. For Scripture says, 'My horn shall be lifted up as the horn of a unicorn (Ps 91:11).' And if anyone reads the book of Job he will discover that the devil is very powerful (Job 1:12). (Oecumenius) seven diadems: The diadem is a symbol of tyranny. (Oecumenius) 12:4 his tail drew the third part of the stars: For he cast down with himself a very great number of the angels, persuading them to rebel with him against God, and so he has made the heavenly being earthly, and those who were bright as stars he has turned into darkness. With his tail means that he has done this by means of his uttermost and hindmost trespasses; for when he first considered his mad rebellion, and then went on consciously to nurture it in the arrogance of his purpose, he thus came to destroy the rest too. (Oecumenius) the dragon stood before the woman: These are some of the events concerning the Lord, when He was to be born, the one who was planning to bring His power to an end carefully watched his opportunity so that when the Virgin gave birth he might destroy the child. So he did not miss his opportunity but stirred up Herod to destroy the man-child, who had nothing weak or feminine about Him. (Oecumenius) 12:5 was taken up to God and to his throne: But the poisonous serpent was lying in wait and provoked Herod to destroy the children in Bethlehem, because he thought he would at all events find the Lord among them. But the child, by the forethought of his Father, escaped the plot. For Joseph heeded a divine warning to take the child along with his mother and escape to Egypt as Herod was about to seek the child's life. (Oecumenius) 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness: While the child was rescued from the serpent's plot, was the woman given over to destruction? No, but she too, was rescued by the flight into Egypt, which was desert and exempt from Herod's plot. (Oecumenius) two thousand two hundred and sixty days: This is three and a half years. The Mother of God spent all that time in Egypt until the death of Herod, after which an angel's divine message brought them back to Judea.(Oecumenius) Michael overcomes the dragon (Rev. 12:7-9) Catechism Footnotes 12:9 391, 2852; 12:7 great battle in heaven: The divine Scripture says that Satan raised up his neck against God (Job 15:25), that is, stretched up an arrogant and stubborn neck against Him and planned to revolt. But God, inasmuch as He is naturally good and long-suffering, was forbearing towards him. The divine angels, on the other hand, did not put up with the arrogance of their master, and drove him out of their company. (Oecumenius) 12:9 he was cast unto the earth: He either actually suffered this, or because he had been stripped of angelic and heavenly rank, he was brought down to an earthly frame of mind. Then, as though taking vengeance on God because of his fall, as he could not injure God, he injures God's servants, human beings, and leads them astray and tries to get them to revolt from God, thinking that in this way he would injure the Master Himself. (Oecumenius) The song of triumph 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time. (Rev. 12:10-12) Catechism Footnotes 12:11 2853; 12:10 Therefore, the holy angels, intimating their own joy which they had at the destruction of Satan, sing a song of victory to God. They said, he says, Now have come salvation and the kingdom, and the power of God has shone out, and the authority of his Christ showing that it is all-powerful. For by its cooperation, he says, we have conquered the enemy, and the accuser of our brethren, who accuses them day and night before God, has departed from us. What modesty of the holy angels! How they imitate their own master! They call human beings their brothers. And why is this amazing, when our common Master did not refuse to call them this when he said, 'I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you?' (Oecumenius)
12:11 And he says, they themselves took vengeance on the devil in equal measure, and they conquered him who seemed to be invincible in venturing even against God. and they conquered by using as support and help the precious blood of Christ and the word of those who bore testimony to him, which they chose before their own lives. (Oecumenius) 12:12 Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you: And if Satan was going to harm the earth and the sea by the descent, someone might ask why he was sent down. The answer is that for those who are self-controlled and have their hope in God, not only has it not been for their harm, but in fact for their benefit. He is exercising them like a gymnastic trainer, making them like iron. But he does not harm the sluggish and fainthearted, who perhaps, even when the tempter was not around, were bad in themselves because they had turned their passions into their nature. When he says, Woe to the earth and the sea, they do not mean, woe to most of those who dwell on the earth and on the sea, but those who are earth and ashes, according to Scripture, those who are earthbound in their mind, as well as the capricious and perplexed and mentally unstable. For it is these that our common enemy attacks and enslaves in their wickedness, as they willingly succumb to his tyranny. (Oecumenius) knowing that he has but a short time: The time is short, from the fall of the Devil until his judgment and just deserts, when compared to eternity. For the same reason, too, the patriarch Jacob, even though he was a hundred and thirty years old, said when asking something of Pharaoh in Genesis 42:9, 'few and evil have been the says of the years of my life.' (Oecumenius) The dragon and the woman 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, who brought forth the man child: 14 And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert unto her place, where she is nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman, water as it were a river; that he might cause her to be carried away by the river. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 18 And he stood upon the sand of the sea. (Rev. 12:13-18) 12:13 he persecuted the woman: He pursued the woman, since he knew that the One who was born of her was too powerful to be captured. He moved with envy against human beings because of their salvation by the Lord. He could not bear such a great reversal, by which he himself had been thrown out of heaven, and human beings by their virtue had gone up from earth to heaven. (Oecumenius) 12:14 two wings of a great eagle: This is the intervention of the angel who exhorted Joseph to take the family to Egypt. (Oecumenius) Or it can be said to be the humility and virginity the most Blessed Mary. And the eagle signifies Mary, because the eagle surpasses other birds just as Mary surpasses all women. (Hugh of St. Cher)
fly into the desert: This is Egypt, as was said above in verse 6. (Oecumenius) for a time and times, and half a time: This is three and a half years. The Mother of God spent all that time in Egypt until the death of Herod, after which an angel's divine message brought them back to Judea.(Oecumenius) 12:15 water, as it were a river: The divine Scripture means allegorically by the river to be temptation or trial, likewise said in Jonah 2:3, 'You cast me into the depths of the heart of the sea, and the rivers surrounded me.' Therefore, he calls her trial over the Passion of the Lord a river, so that by what happened to the Lord and the intensity of her sorrow, the serpent had the power to fulfill his purpose. What does Simeon say to her in Luke 2:3? 'And a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.' (Oecumenius) 12:16 earth swallowed the river: The earth swallowed the river indicates that the earth had accepted the trial, that is, the killing of the Lord. But the earth's help did not consist in this, but in restoring the Lord again; for He came to life again after three days, trampling upon death, since it was impossible for Him to be held by it, since He was the Author of Life, according to the blessed Peter (Acts 3:15). (Oecumenius) 12:17 went to make war with the rest of her seed: He pursued those who are called the brothers and sisters of the Lord, namely, the faithful. (Oecumenius) THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST By John Litteral In Revelation 11:19-12:1 John sees a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant and Queen of Heaven. And while describing that he recalls some details about the Blessed Mother and the time when she was to give birth to the Lord. First, John says, 12:2 And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered. Some Catholic theologians have avoided interpreting this as Mary because according to Catholic Tradition Mary was preserved from original sin (CCC 491) and did not suffer the pain of child birth, which became a curse at the Fall in Genesis (Gen 3:16). But Mary was not suffering from physical pain here, but emotional pain. Why was she in such emotional stress and pain? Two verses down is the answer, "And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth (v.4)." It is understandable why Mary was in anguish because she had all the powers of evil waiting to kill her Son. (John Paul II MULIERIS DIGNITATEM 30) For Scripture also says, "And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had borne the male child." (v13) Satan being thrown down to earth is figurative of him falling from heavenly rank to an earthly rank, no longer having his great angelic status. (Oecumenius) The Incarnation of the Lord was just the beginning of Satan's great fall, but the Crucifixion brought it more fully. The Lord mentions the fall of Satan's rank when He said, “I was watching as Satan fell like lightning from heaven." (Lk 10:18) So, at the birth of Christ, Satan is in the midst waiting to kill the baby Jesus, and Mary knows that the presence of evil is near, and that the Devil is going to make a great effort to prevent the Savior of the world from making it past childhood. The Devil, though close enough to have Mary very stressed in the stable where the Lord was born, he is not able to harm the Lord himself. The presence of so many heavenly angels in around Bethlehem was likely a deterrent to Satan, so Satan plots to have the Lord killed by the hands of Herod. He stirs up Herod so that he would be "in a furious rage" (Mt. 2:16) in order to try to kill the child Jesus. As Satan plots to have the Lord killed by laying upon the heart of Herod to do so, "an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." (Mt. 2:13) This is what St. John was talking about when he said, "The woman was given the two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time." (Rev. 12:14) Mary was given two wings, that is reference to the angel or his message that led her and the Holy Family's flee to Egypt for three and a half years, as they "remained there until the death of Herod." (Mt. 2:15) As they were safe in Egypt, Herod "sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi." (Mt. 2:16) This is what St. John meant in Revelation 12:15-16, "The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had poured from his mouth." The serpent, that is Satan, through the hands of Herod poured forth water, which is symbolic language for danger (see Ps 18:16). The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river means that those who suffered the great loss from the slaying of the children took that trial instead of Mary and Jesus, "Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more (Matt. 2:17-18)." The Devil was not successful in killing the child Jesus, so he "was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea." (Rev. 12:17) In other words, the Devil has set out to attack all those who follow Jesus. People who follow Jesus are considered to be the offspring of the Blessed Mother Mary because Jesus gave us his Mother when he said while on the cross to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother! (John 19:26-27)" The Devil has been behind all the persecution that Christians have suffered, and that war will continue until the Lord comes again. | Ecclesiastical Interpretation The woman and the dragon 1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered. 3 And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns: and on his head seven diadems: 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered; that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her a thousand two hundred sixty days. (Rev. 12:1-6) Catechism Footnotes 12 1138; 12:1 woman: Now some commentators have explained that the woman is our Blessed Lady, the Lady Mary, the mother of the Lord. Other commentators, who are among the greatest of the learned teachers of the Church, have explained that the woman is the Church. But there is no disagreement about this. For many things are applicable to Our Lady, because of the Incarnation. For the Lord became completely incarnate from her. Also these words may be applicable to the holy, universal and apostolic Church and the establishment of the community. (Bulus al-Bushi) The Church is called the woman because the knowledge of the divine Word begets children for the Spouse, and nourishes with diligence and labor. This reflects what was said of Esther, whom the king loved above all other women; therefore Christ approves the Church more than the congregations of the faithful before the Law and during the Law. (St. Thomas Aquinas) woman clothed with the sun: That is, the Church, surrounded by boiling tribulation, which is meant by the name of the sun... Or, that is, the Church clothed with charity and knowledge. For the sun has heat, which signifies charity; and brightness, which signifies knowledge. (Hugh of St. Cher) That is, the Church with Jesus Christ. The woman is the Church, Christ is the sun. The Church is clothed with the sun when a new life begins in the reception of baptism, and the old man is put off... The sun of His robe does three things, covers the sins through the grace of the Sacraments, adorns the soul by a multitude of virtues and gifts, heats, by the fervor of the love of God and their neighbor. (St. Albert the Great) Or this is the Church dressed or decorated by Christ illuminating and decorating. Of the clothing of Christ, Romans 13:14 says, 'But put on the Lord Jesus Christ', because He rules, warms, protects, decorates, and honors her. For Christ is called the sun for the sake of the glory which He has in Himself, and which is wrought in the Church or in the righteous people. For Malaicahi 4:2 says, 'But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise.' (St. Thomas Aquinas) Or this indicates the hope of resurrection and the glory of the promise. (St. Victorinus of Pettau) The sun signifies love. (Rabanus Maurus) moon under her feet: Moon, that is, the desire for temporary things, which changes like the moon. Under her feet, that is, her passion. She despises the temporal, and oppresses it like the moon under her feet. (St. Albert the Great) Note that the Church ignores or tramples on the moon, for the love of the sun. Phil. 3:8 says, 'of Jesus Christ, my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but as dung.' (St. Thomas Aquinas) Or, that is, the world under preachers of the Gospel, who are the feet of the Church, because they carry and sustain it. (Hugh of St. Cher) Or, meaning the Church being adorned with heavenly glory. (St. Hippolytus of Rome On Antichrist 61) symbolizes the corrupt world which, though it sustains the Church, does not affect her. (Interlinear Gloss) twelve stars: Here is shown the badge of royal dignity, for the ornament of the head, crowns and decorates and ennobles the Church. He says, upon her head, that is, in Christ, who is the head of the Church itself, providing rule, in bringing a sense of faith, and the movement of love and action. For Colossians 1:18 says, 'he is the head of the body, the church.' (St. Thomas Aquinas) They are the twelve apostles, they themselves had been victorious over the enemies of the Church. They adorned the Church... and gave light to the whole world. For Matthew 5:14 says, 'You are the light of the world.' And Baruch 3:34 says, 'the stars have given light in their watches.' Thomas in India major, Bartholomew in India minor, Simon and Jude in Persia, Philip in Samaria, Matthew in Ethiopia, Matthias in Alexandria, John in Asia, Andrew in Achaia, Both James in Judea, Peter in Cappadocia, Paul in Greece, and at last, Peter and Paul in Italy... Or, that is, a garment, and adorned with the twelve fruits of the Spirit. Concerning Galatians 522-23, 'the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity.' (Hugh of St. Cher) 12:2 cried travailing in birth: The children of the Church will increase throughout the nations. (Bulus al-Bushi) Or by which is meant that the Church, always bringing forth Christ, becomes the instructor of all the nations. (St. Hippolytus of Rome) Likewise, the doctrine of preaching, which disposes men, that they may become the sons of God by adoption... He says, then, and being with child (in the womb), according to a Gloss, 'in the memory of the yoke, having, the Word of God.' This is the fetus, which the Church has received from her Spouse, about which He endeavors to form the children, beautiful and the new... She cried, that is, the preachers in the Church and the good pastors. The Church preaches greater by preaching with passion, which is understood to be with a shout, as Isaiah 58:1 says, 'Cry, cease not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet.' Travailing, that is, with an effort attempting to bring forth spiritual children. (St. Thomas Aquinas) in pain: In pain, the interior desire, and the exterior mortification of the flesh, that she may bear, that is, the spiritual children of God. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Or it means that the Church will not cease to bear from her heart the Word that is persecuted by the unbelieving in the world. (St. Hippolytus of Rome) She called to God, so He would quickly give to her a Son who would free her from the oppression of the infidels. (Nicholas of Lyra) 12:3 great red dragon: That is the Devil, who is like a dragon because of his craftiness and skill to bring harm. Great, on account of his power. For Job 41:24 says, 'There is no power upon earth that can be compared with him who was made to fear no one.' Red on account of his cruelty, or red on account of being a murderer. For John 8:44 says, 'He was a murderer from the beginning', and he still thirsts for blood. (St. Albert the Great) seven heads: That is, seven evil spirits against the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. For Matthew 12:45 says, 'Then he goes, and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself.' These are as such, the spirit of foolishness against the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of stupidity against the spirit of knowledge, spirit of imprudence against counsel, spirit of cowardice against courage, spirit of ignorance against science, spirit of wickedness against godliness, the spirit of recklessness against timidness. These attacks the Devil does against the Church spiritually and openly. (St. Albert the Great) ten horns: That is to say, the leaders of which the devil is lifted up, which are like horns, and opposes the Church. For Daniel 7:24 says, 'the ten horns of the same kingdom, shall be ten kings.' (St. Albert the Great) seven diadems: That is, seven victories, which he obtains from his victims in spiritual battle, or seven chief vices. (St. Albert the Great) 12:4 his tail drew the third part of the stars: Now, that he says that the dragon's tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, this may be taken in two ways. For many think that he may be able to seduce the third part of the men who believe. But it should more truly be understood, that of the angels that were subject to him, since he was still a prince when he descended from his estate. (St. Victorinus of Pettau) the dragon stood before the woman: That is, against the Church. For Genesis 3:15 says, 'I will put enmities between you and the woman.' (St. Albert the Great) That is, against the Church of God while bringing forth children, because the devil always waits to bring harm to the faithful of the Church. For 1 Peter 5:8 says, 'your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour.' (St. Thomas Aquinas) was ready to be delivered: Namely some in the faith and love of Christ. (St. Albert the Great) 12:5 who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: As it were in power, or unbending justice of God united with mercy. For a rod is a symbol of mercy. (Hugh of St. Cher) was taken up to God and to his throne: That is the Ascension. (St. Albert the Great) Namely,, leading captivity captive (Ps 68:18 Eph 4:8), He ascended into heaven. And to His throne, with the power to rule and judge all things. (Hugh of St. Cher) 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness: The Church lives in this world, suffering as the Jews did in the wilderness, yet always being under the care of God. (Primasius of Hadrumetum) Or it is the secrecy of mind, despite her turmoil in the world. (St. Albert the Great) should feed her: Fed physically in the literal sense. Spiritually the feeding of the bread has a threefold meaning; namely, the teaching of the Eucharist, inward consolation, and grace. For Sirach 15:3 says, 'With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him.' (St. Albert the Great) two thousand two hundred and sixty days: That is, during the whole time of the present life, because only the Church will last, that is what Christ taught, for Matthew 28:20 says, 'I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.' (Hugh of St. Cher) Or, that is, during which apostasy will prevail, Great Tribulation. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) Michael overcomes the dragon 7 And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels: 8 And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduces the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Rev. 12:7-9) Catechism Footnotes 12:9 391, 2852; 12:7 great battle in heaven: That is to say, in the Church, which is heaven, which through faith and the Passion of Christ, the devil is cast out of the hearts of the faithful. For Ephesians 6:11 says, 'Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.' Or, namely, when the good and the bad angels dissented among themselves. For the bad angels wanted to be exalted, while to good angels wanted to humble themselves. (St. Albert the Great) Michael: Who is the prince of the Church and especially the guardian. Daniel 10:13 says, 'and behold Michael, one of the chief princes.' (St. Albert the Great) Satan, who is strong and cunning and ill natured: for this reason the Church is in need of help... Michael is mentioned alone, because he is the overseer of the Church. It applies especially to his guardianship. Prior to the Church, Michael was guardian of the synagogue. (Hugh of St. Cher) 12:8 neither was their place found any more in heaven: That is, in the Church with respect to the elect. As if to say: the devil can not to find a place no more, that is, a dominion and an abode in the elect. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 12:9 he was cast unto the earth: That is he was cast out far away from the elect by the angels, and was defeated, and cast down to the earth, that is, in among the earthly men. For it was said to the serpent in Genesis 3:14, 'and earth shall you eat.' (St. Thomas Aquinas) The song of triumph 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time. (Rev. 12:10-12) Catechism Footnotes 12:11 2853; 12:10 loud voice in heaven: That is the Church Triumphant. saying: Namely through symbolism. Now: That is, after the defeat of the prince of death. Or now means from all the time of the present life, from the coming of the Savior to the end of the world. is come salvation: Because through Christ we are saved. Psalm 3:9 says, 'Salvation is of the Lord.' strength: Because by Him we are strengthened. For Isaiah 40:29 says, 'It is He that gives strength to the weary.' kingdom: That is to say, our Father, who rules us, and the fair and just freedom from virtue to virtue, as the Gloss says. the power of his Christ: Namely, of the Son, because He cast forth the devil. (St. Albert the Great) 12:11 And they overcame him: Namely the brethren, supported by the help of the angels. overcame: namely, by resisting his temptations. (St. Albert the Great) and they loved not their lives: That is, the lives of the senses, that is, of the body. by the word of the testimony: that is because of the word which they witnessed by faith and the truth of the Catholic faith. Or from preaching or enduring torment. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 12:12 Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you: This is the punishment of the wicked. And there are two. First, he was expelled from the elect, and he began to be a more violent reprobate. Second shows his efforts to oppose the Church. Woe to the earth and sea: That is, sinners who are flowing down, just as the sea, and settled, like the land, because they do not ascend upward. (St. Albert the Great) Woe, that is, a great evil will happen to the earth and the sea, namely all the wicked. The earth is the false Christians who love the earthly things, while clinging to a dead faith. The sea, are the unbelievers, who are in the depth and bitterness of errors. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Or the earth and sea are all sinners, and the sea signifies pride. By earth is signified greed. For it is said in 1 Timothy 6:10, 'For greed is the root of all evils.' And concerning pride it is said in Sirach 10:15, ' for pride is the beginning of all sin.' (Hugh of St. Cher) knowing that he has but a short time: Short as far as the end of the world, because from the Passion of the Lord, until the day of judgment, it is a short time, with respect to the time that preceded. For many ages of the world preceded. 1 John. 2:18 says, 'Little children, it is the last hour.' And 1 Corinthians 10:11, 'upon whom the ends of the world are come.' This may, however, be understood in another way for the last days, that is the time of the Antichrist. (St. Thomas Aquinas) That is, to have cruelty toward the saints, and for that reason the devil more passionately opposes them. (St. Albert the Great) The dragon and the woman 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, who brought forth the man child: 14 And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert unto her place, where she is nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman, water as it were a river; that he might cause her to be carried away by the river. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 18 And he stood upon the sand of the sea. (Rev. 12:13-18) 12:13 he persecuted the woman: That is, the Church. She bore a child, namely Jesus Christ, who provided assistance against open oppression of the devil. (Hugh of St. Cher) 12:14 two wings of a great eagle: That is the holy Church supported by the knowledge of the two testaments (Haimo of Auxerre) or the two witnesses from chapter 11, Elias, and the prophet who shall be with him. (St. Victorinus of Pettau) Or two wings with which to defend herself, namely, with patience and wisdom. (Hugh of St. Cher) fly into the desert: That is Heaven, which is isolated from apostate angels and unjust men. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Or desert signifies the holy conscience, or in a place of penance. (Hugh of St. Cher) for a time and times, and half a time: This is understood as the whole duration of the state of the Church, from the Passion of the Lord, even unto the end of the world. Or it can be understood as referring to the time of Antichrist, for he will be ruling for three and a half years. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 12:15 water, as it were a river: That is, ungodly men or evil demons or a multitude of various temptations against her that he might enslave the Church. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) Or, that is, overflowing tribulation. For Matthew 24:21 says, 'For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.' (St. Albert the Great) 12:16 earth swallowed the river: The holy earth is the flesh of the Lord, which by swallowing up death, which it accepted, and which for a time prevailed against it, has taught us also to swallow up death. The Church may also be understood, by the warnings and prayers of whose mouth the plots of the enemy are avoided. (St. Bede) or by the humility of the saints who say inwardly / am earth and ashes Gen 18:27. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) 12:17 went to make war with the rest of her seed: That is her spiritual offspring who begets the seed of the Word of God. For 1 Peter 1:23 says, 'Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God who lives and remains for ever.' (St. Thomas Aquinas) Or by seed is meant the Word preached, by which men are born again, and made the sons of God. (Haimo of Auxerre) |
Home > Revelation > Rev 1 > Rev 2 > Rev 3 > Rev 4 > Rev 5 > Rev 6 > Rev 7 > Rev 8 > Rev 9 > Rev 10 > Rev 11 >