The fall of Babylon 1 And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened with his glory. 2 And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen; and is become the habitation of demons, and the hold of every unclean spirit, and the hold of every unclean and hateful bird: 3 Because all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her; and the merchants of the earth have been made rich by the power of her delicacies. 18:1 The earth, that is. the Church; or earthly men who become illuminated by faith. (Cardinal Hugo de Sancto Caro) 18:2 Babylon is twice said to have fallen; because it fell first when by the teaching of the Gospel it lost a very great multitude of inhabitants in the elect; who being cut off from it by the faith of Christ, were made citizens of the holy city, that is, of the Church. It will fall a second time at the last day when it will be punished by a perpetual death; which, in this book, is called the second death. (Berengaud) This Babylon signifies that which consists of the multitude of the wicked, in which is the hold of every unclean spirit; because in the hearts of the wicked as in prisons are shut up devils, who are called unclean by reason of the foulness of all the sins with which they are conversant. ... By 'unclean birds, ' we may understand vain and proud men who dwell in Babylon. Wicked spirits, by reason of their wickedness, are demons; by reason of the allurements of the flesh, they are unclean spirits; by reason of elation of mind, they are called birds. (Haimo of Auxerre) 18:3 On account of the excesses from unjust riches, it says, extending to that which is far above necessity and behaving insolently toward those in need, it has become a matter of profit to the merchants of the earth. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) Her sins end punished 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying: Go out from her, my people; that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and the Lord has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her as she also has rendered to you; and double to her double according to her works: in the cup wherein she has mingled, mingle double to her. 7 As much as she has glorified herself, and lived in delicacies, so much torment and sorrow give to her; because she says in her heart: I sit as a queen, and am no widow; and sorrow I shall not see. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be burnt with the fire; because God is strong, who shall judge her. 18:4-5 This voice, which is understood to be the voice of the Omnipotent God exhorting the elect. (Haimo of Auxerre) As was declared to Lot in Sodom, Escape, saving your own life Gen 19:17, and in Isaiah Come out from her and look away, and do not touch the unclean is 52:11 likewise he says here. For close association with those who provoke God is shunned. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) So that the sense is this; if you abstain from the sins of Babylon, you will be separated from the punishments which she will endure to eternity. (Berengaud) her sins have reached heaven: Scripture however is not accustomed to use language of this kind; except only when the sins are of the greatest magnitude, and their punishment is not to be delayed. (John Stephen Menochius) 18:7 I sit as a queen: that is, I am placed in honor and dignity, even as a queen sits in glory and honor; 'and I am no Widow, ' as the Church has her own husband, that is, Christ; as the apostle says, 'I have espoused you unto one husband to present you to Christ as a chaste virgin; 2 Cor 11:2 ' so the Harlot, that is, the city of the wicked, is adjoined to one man in adulterous intercourse, that is, the Devil. (Haimo of Auxerre) 18:8 one day: This is either the suddenness and brevity of time in which, it says, from both the sword and famine sorrow will come to her, and also from pestilence, to be destroyed and to be burnt down by fire, or that it is in the course of this same day in which these things prophesied will prevail over her. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) Lament of the kings 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication, and lived in delicacies with her, shall weep, and bewail themselves over her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning: 10 Standing afar off for fear of her torments, saying: Alas! alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city: for in one hour has your judgment come. 18:9-19 How variously and neatly he has woven the lament over her and the climax of her grief. Since practically everything is clear let us simply go on to the rest. (Oecumenius) Lament of the merchants 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep, and mourn over her: for no man shall buy their merchandise any more. 12 Merchandise of gold and silver, and precious stones; and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of precious stone, and of brass, and of iron, and of marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits of the desire of your soul are departed from you, and all fat and good things are perished from you, and they shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich, shall stand afar off from her, for fear of her torments, weeping and mourning. 16 And saying: Alas! alas! that great city, which was clothed with fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and was gilt with gold, and precious stones, and pearls. Lament of the mariners 17 For in one hour are so great riches come to nought; and every shipmaster, and all that sail into the lake, and mariners, and as many as work in the sea, stood afar off. 18 And cried, seeing the place of her burning, saying: What city is like to this great city? 19 And they cast dust upon their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying: Alas! alas! that great city, wherein all were made rich, that had ships at sea, by reason of her prices: for in one hour she is made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her. The angel's promise 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone, as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: With such violence as this shall Babylon, that great city, be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and of musicians, and of them that play on the pipe, and on the trumpet, shall no more be heard at all in you; and no craftsman of any art whatsoever shall be found any more at all in you; and the sound of the mill shall be heard no more at all in you; 23 And the light of the lamp shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, for all nations have been deceived by your enchantments. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. 18:20-24 The merchants and the kings of the earth and all who had an interest in the city while it was standing and prospering will weep over it, but let the heavens rejoice, that is, the angels in heaven and the souls of the righteous, because God has effected vengeance, and the angels as rejoicing together with those who were avenged. (Oecumenius) 18:22 And no craftsman of whatsoever craft he be: All these things are to be understood spiritually. By arts we may understand the wisdom of this world, which is foolishness with God; which the wicked artificers and sons of Babylon learn for the purpose of making progress in the wickedness of Babylon; for they are wise to do evil, but to do good they know not. (Berengaud) Catechism Cross-reference
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