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Chapter 13VitC.1.13

Vita Caroli

The Net Cast into the Sea of This World

The parable of the drag-net is introduced and allegorically decoded: the net is the word of God sent through the apostles, the sea is the restless world, and the fish are people of every kind.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a drag-net cast into the sea, gathering into itself fish of every kind."✦ By the drag-net we can understand the word of God, which was sent through the apostles, when the command was given to them in the gospel of Mark: "Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature."✦ It was sent by them into the sea — that is, into this world — whence it was notably said to them, "Go into the whole world," which is certainly signified here mystically and quite fittingly by the sea.✦ For just as the sea never rests but is always in motion, driven by the flow and ebb of its tides, and tosses and disturbs those sailing in it with waves and storms from every side — so that world is continually moved by countless motions, and there it unsettles and attacks those who waver in it with their own snares and ever-prepared dangers. Overwhelmed by these dangers in this shipwrecked sea, the prophet cries out to the Lord. "Save me, O God, for the waters have come in even unto my soul."✦ And again: "Let not the storm of water or of the sea submerge me" — that is, the dangers of this world.✦ For undoubtedly the prophet intended here to signify dangers by the storm, and the world by the sea; but by the fish, people are signified in this passage.

Fishers of Men and the Universal Reach of the Word

The apostles are identified as fishers of men, and the net of God's word is shown to gather all people—Jews and nations alike—through the apostolic mission, the Holy Spirit, and Christ's own preaching.

So in the Gospel of Matthew: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers."✦ And elsewhere in the Gospel of Luke, the Lord said to Peter: "Do not be afraid, for from this moment on you will be catching men."✦ It is said above, 'from every kind of fish,' that is, gathering men — because this net, namely the word of God, gathers and takes in all people, of whatever kind, status, or condition, whether good or evil.✦ Because it was sent not only to the Jews but also to the nations, and equally to all — as it is read in the Acts of the Apostles. It was sent out through the apostles, of whom the psalm says: 'Their sound has gone out into all the earth,' etc.✦ And through the Holy Spirit, who, as the wise one says, filled the whole world — and also through our Savior, who personally and for our salvation sowed and scattered such words in the world.

The Fulfilling of the Net and the Cry of the Martyrs

The net is fulfilled when God's word has accomplished all it proclaimed; the number of saints and wicked is completed, as foreshadowed by the martyrs under the altar in Revelation who cry for justice and await the filling of their number.

And so in the gospel of John it says: "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin."✦ This word must be fulfilled, and so it was said above: "when it was fulfilled."✦ This net, or word, will be fulfilled when everything that has been proclaimed by this same word through the mouth of the Lord and his saints has been fully and effectually accomplished. For in the gospel of Matthew it is read: "Not one iota of these things will perish, nor will the generation cease until all these things come to pass, for heaven and earth will pass away," etc.✦ Just as it is said in the gospel of Luke.✦ But after that net — or the word of God — has been filled, then the number of the saints foretold in the word of God, and likewise the number of the wicked, will at once be filled on account of the word of God, just as John saw in the Apocalypse and said in figurative language: "I saw beneath the altar of God the souls of those slain on account of the word of God, which they held, and they were crying out with a great voice, saying: 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, will you not avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'✦ And individual white robes were given to each of them, and it was said to them that they should rest yet a little while, until the number of their brethren who were to be slain — just as they had been — would be filled up."✦

The Four Ropes of the Spiritual Net

At the consummation of the age the full net is drawn out by the apostles; the net is drawn by four ropes—two from God (grace and fortitude) and two from us (love and hatred)—corresponding to the four ropes of a material fishing net.

Once the net is full—the word and the number spoken of before are fulfilled—the last day of final judgment will be at hand, just as the evangelist hints in the words already quoted, where it says: "So it will be at the consummation of the age," etc.✦ And then, in that judgment, the net, now full, will be drawn out—which is why it says: "Drawing out."✦ And those who draw it out will be the same ones who cast it in—namely, the apostles. And they themselves, drawing out the net—that is, the word they sowed in us, together with the field and the fruit of the seed—will draw it out full, filled with both good and evil: with those in which the word of God bore fruit well, and with those in which it bore fruit badly. As it is read in the Gospel of Luke: "What she sows, that she will also reap," and in the Psalm: "Who sows in tears, in exultation," etc.✦✦ And because they sowed in us, they will also reap from us and draw out from us. They will draw us out, however, through four ropes fastened to the aforementioned net—like a material net, which is similarly drawn out by four ropes. In any net there are four ropes: two stretching above the water and two floating below. The two lower ones correspond to the two upper ones, so that the one on the right side below corresponds to the one on the right side above, and the one on the left side below corresponds to the one on the left side above. So it is also in this spiritual net, in which there are likewise four ropes through which all are drawn: two floating above, which come from God's side—namely, grace and strength—and two floating below, which come from our side—namely, love and hatred.

Grace and Love: Drawing the Good

The first two ropes—God's grace and human love—work together to draw the good, as Christ teaches that the Father draws through grace and comes to dwell with those who love him.

The first upper rope — namely, the grace of God — corresponds to the first lower one, namely love, and by these two the good are drawn along.1 On the first, the Lord says in the Gospel of John: "No one can come to me unless my Father has drawn them through grace."✦23 On the second, it is likewise said in the Gospel of John: "Anyone who loves me, my Father will love them, and we will come to them" — that is, drawn along in love and affection — "and we will make our dwelling with them."✦45 And these two can be understood from what the psalmist says: "Ropes have fallen for me in splendid places."67

Fortitude and Hatred: Drawing the Wicked

The second pair of ropes—God's fortitude and human hatred of the light—draw the wicked against their will, as they flee judgment and must be compelled by divine strength, illustrated by the rapture and the measuring line of judgment.

Likewise, to the second upper cord—namely, fortitude—there corresponds a second lower cord, namely hatred, and by these two all the wicked are drawn. For everyone who acts wickedly hates the light, as it is said in the Gospel of John; and for such people the fortitude of God is more necessary than for the first.✦ For the first come willingly to judgment, hoping for a reward. But these will flee judgment, fearing eternal punishment, and will hide themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains, and will say to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb'—when the great day of their wrath will come, and who will be able to stand?—just as it is read in the Apocalypse.✦ Therefore, for them fortitude is necessary, so that through it they may be drawn against their will. From the first—namely, fortitude—can be understood what the Apostle says: 'We will all be caught up,' that is, by the strength of God, 'to meet Christ in the air.'✦ And what the Savior says in the Gospel—'When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself'—means by his strength.✦ From the second, indeed, it is read in the Book of Kings: 'He will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the weight of the house of Ahab.'✦

All Brought Before the Tribunal

All are drawn forth by the apostles into the net and will stand before God's tribunal to receive according to their deeds, as the psalmist and the apostle testify.

The psalmist speaks of both: "The ropes of sinners are wrapped around me." And so all will be brought forth by the apostles into that net. For as the apostle says: "We will all stand before the tribunal of God, about to receive according to what we have done in the body."✦

The Shore of Judgment: Separation and Sentence

The shore represents God's tribunal, the destination of all who sail through this age; there the apostles sit with Christ on twelve thrones, enrolling the good in eternal dwellings and casting the wicked into Gehenna with the words of Matthew 25.

They will lead us out to the shore — that is, to the tribunal of God Almighty — which is rightly compared to a shore. For just as the shore is the destination of those who sail, so that same tribunal is the destination and end of all who waver in this age. Now after they lead us out, we will be sitting beside the shore — that is, the tribunal — as was said above, just as the Savior says in the Gospel: "When the Son of Man sits on the seat of his majesty, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." And for judges of our Lord they will choose the good as vessels — that is, they will enroll them in eternal dwellings, where there is peace and joy, by his righteous judgment. The wicked, however, they will cast out — that is, they will condemn them to eternal Gehenna, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This will happen at the word of God, when he says to the good: "Come, blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom," etc. To the wicked, however: "Go, cursed, into eternal fire," as it is read in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Angels as Ministers of Judgment

After the judgment sentence, the angels serve as ministers and executors, separating the wicked from the righteous and casting them into the furnace of fire, as the psalmist calls them mighty in power who do God's word.

Once that judgment is complete, the angels — as ministers and executors of the sentences just spoken and of that judgment — will immediately separate the wicked from among the righteous and will cast them into the furnace of fire, as follows in the word of the gospel quoted above.✦8 For they themselves are ministers of the word of God, as the psalmist says of them: 'Bless the Lord, all you angels of his, mighty in power, doing his word, to hear the voice of his words.'✦910 'Bless the Lord, all you powers of his, his ministers, who do his will.'✦11

Christ's Question and the Raising of Understanding

Christ asks his disciples if they have understood, not from doubt but to lift their understanding deeper, as shown in Peter's confession; seeing their eagerness, he promises heavenly rewards and calls the instructed scribe like a householder who brings forth new and old.

Now it follows in the words just quoted: "Have you understood all these things?"✦ They say to him: "Yes."✦ These words are interrogatory. And so when the Lord had set forth the three aforementioned parables to his disciples, he was asking them with these words: "Have you understood all these things?" Now he will ask them not because he doubted their knowledge—since he knows all things before they come to pass—but so that by questioning them he might lift their understanding to a deeper recognition of himself. This is shown to us clearly in the person of Peter, in the Gospel of Matthew: when Peter was asked, "Who do men say the Son of Man is?" and answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," the Lord immediately said to him: "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."12 See how the disciples' understanding had been steadily raised up by his questioning, so that they immediately answered: "Yes, Lord." Therefore the Lord, observing the raising up of their understanding, and seeing them eager to receive the words of his holy teaching, considering also that he wanted to draw them still further and invite them onward, promises them heavenly rewards as their wage, saying: "Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure new things and old."✦ And he rightly says 'scribe instructed'—one who, namely, by the word of teaching and by the example of a good life, instructs and forms them through his instruction.

The Learned Scribe and the Treasure of the Heart

Not all scribes are learned; only the scribe who practices what he teaches is like a householder bringing forth from his treasure new and old—the mysteries of both testaments—for the instruction of others, and such learned ones will shine like stars forever, as Daniel foretells.

For those who teach but don't practice what they teach are called scribes indeed, but not learned — as it says in the Gospel of Matthew: "The scribes and Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses; therefore, do what they teach you according to their doctrine, but do not do according to their works."✦ See — they are called scribes, but not learned. Therefore not every scribe, but only the learned scribe, is like a householder who brings forth from his treasure new things and old.✦ For a treasure is riches stored up one after another over time. Just as, then, a householder at a time of opportunity and need brings forth new things from his treasure — things he has recently stored up — and old things he has long kept in reserve, for the sake of earthly glory: so the learned scribe, from the treasure which he has stored up in his heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for the sake of the glory to be obtained in the heavenly homeland, brings forth and expounds, for the instruction and justification of others, through his holy preaching and teaching, the mysteries of the new and old testament, to their benefit.✦ Rightly, then, are such men called learned scribes — those of whom it is read in Daniel: "But those who are learned shall shine" and so on.✦ And those who instruct many in righteousness will shine like stars for everlasting ages.✦

Read the original Latin

"Simile est regnum celorum sagene misse in mare, et ex omni genere piscium [in eam] congreganti." Per sagenam possumus intelligere verbum dei, que missa fuit per apostolos, quando eis preceptum fuit in evangelio Marci: "Ite in universum mundum et predicate evangelium omni creature." Fuit autem per eos missa in mare, id est, in hunc mundum, unde notanter fuit eis dictum: ite in mundum universum, qui utique hic per mare mistice et satis proprie designatur. Nam sicut mare nunquam quiescit, sed semper movetur motu fluxus et refluxus et navigantes in eo suis undis et procellis hinc inde agitat et perturbat: sic mundus ille innumerabilibus motibus continue movetur, et in eo se fluctuantes suis insidiis et paratis periculis semper inquietat et impugnat. Quibus periculis in hoc mari naufrago propheta comprehensus ad dominum exclamat. "Salvum me fac deus, quoniam intraverunt aque usque ad animam meam." Et iterum: "Non me demergat tempestas aque seu maris," id est pericula huis mundi. Nam indubitanter per tempestatem pericula et per mare mundum propheta hic voluit designare; per pisces vero homines in hoc loco significantur.

Unde in evangelio Mathei: "Venite post me, faciam vos piscatores." Et alibi in evangelio Luce dixit dominus Petro: "Noli timere, ex hoc enim eris homines capiens." Dicitur vero superius: ex omni genere piscium, id est hominum congreganti, quia omnes homines cuiuscunque generis, status, condicionis, sive bonos sive malos, hec sagena, scilicet verbum dei, congregat et comprehendit. Quia non tantum ad Judeos, sed etiam ad gentes, et pariter ad omnes transmissum est, sicut in actibus apostolorum legitur. Est autem transmissum per apostolos, de quibus in psalmo: In omnem terram exivit sonus eorum" etc. Et per spiritum sanctum, qui, ut sapiens ait, replevit orbem terrarum, eciam per salvatorem nostrum, qui huiusmodi verba personaliter et salubriter in mundo seminavit et sparsit.

Et ideo in evangelio Johannes dicit: "Si ad eos non venissem et eis locutus non fuissem, peccatum non haberent, nunc autem excusacionem non habent de peccato suo". Hoc autem verbum oportet impleri, et ideo superius dicitur: quae cum impleta esset. Implebitur autem hec sagena sive verbum, cum omnia, que hoc eodem verbo per os domini et sanctorum suorum pronunciata sunt, totaliter et effectualiter implebuntur. Nam in evangelio Mathei legitur: "Nec unum iota de hiis peribit, nec cessabit generacio, donec hec omnia fiant, quia celum et terra transibunt," etc. Sicut in evangelio Luce dicitur. Postquam autem sagena illa sive verbum dei fuerit adimpletum, tunc statim adimplebitur similiter et numerus sanctorum in verbo dei et malorum propter verbum dei, prout in apocalypsi Johannes vidit, et in figura dixit: "Vidi subtus altare dei animas interfectorum propter verbum dei, quod habebant, et clamabant voce magna dicentes: usque quo domine sanctus et verus non vindicas sanguinem nostrum de hiis, qui habitant in terra? Et date sunt illis singule stole albe, et dictum est illis, ut requiescerent tempus adhuc modicum, donec impleatur numerus fratrum eorum, qui interficiendi sunt, sicut et illi."

Post implecionem sagene seu verbi et numeri predictorum instabit dies novissima et ultimi iudicii, prout evangelista innuit in verbis preassumptis, dum dicitur: "Sic erit in consummacione seculi" etc. Et tunc in illo iudicio educetur illa sagena impleta, unde dicit: "Educentes". Et ipsi iidem erunt educentes, qui fuerunt immittentes eam, videlicet apostoli. Et ipsi educentes sagenam seu verbum, quod in nos seminaverunt una cum agro et seminum fructu, et plenam educent seu impletam, videlicet bonis et malis, id est illis, in quibus verbum dei bene fructificavit, et illis, in quibus male, sicut in evangelio Luce legitur: "Que seminat, ea et metet," et in psalmo: "Qui seminat in lacrimis, in exultacione" etc. Et quia ipsi seminaverunt in nobis, eciam de nobis metent et educent. Educent autem nos per IIII funes herentes in sagena predicta adinstar sagene materialis, que similiter per IIII funes ducitur. Sunt enim in qualibet sagena IIII funes, duo super aquam se tendentes, et duo inferius sub aqua natantes, et hii duo inferiores correspondent duobus superioribus, ita quod ille, qui est in dextra inferiori, correspondet illi, qui est in dextra superiori, et in sinistra inferiori illi, qui est in sinistra superiori. Sic eciam est in ista sagena spirituali, in qua sunt similiter quatuor funes, per quos omnes trahuntur, duo scilicet supernatantes, et illi sunt ex parte dei, videlicet gracia et fortitudo; et duo inferius natantes, qui sunt ex parte nostri, videlicet caritas et odium.

Primo funi superiori, scilicet gracie dei correspondent primus inferior, scilicet caritas, et hiis duobus bonis trahuntur boni. De primo dominus in evangelio Johannis: "Nemo potest venire ad me, nisi pater meus traxerit eum per graciam." De secundo similiter dicitur in evangelio Johannis: "Si quis diligit me et pater meus diliget eum", et ad eum veniemus, scilicet tracti in caritate et dileccione, et mansionem apud eum faciemus. Et de hiis duobus potest intelligi, quod dicit psalmista: "Funes ceciderunt michi in preclaris."

Item secundo funi superiori, videlicet fortitudini, correspondet secundus inferior, scilicet odium, et hiis trahuntur omnes mali. Nam omnis, qui male agit, odit lucem, sicut dicitur in evangelio Johannis: et quoad illos magis necessaria est fortitudo dei quam ad primos. Nam primi voluntarie veniunt ad iudicium, sperantes premium. Isti autem fugient iudicium, timentes supplicium eternum, et abscondent se in speluncis et petris moncium et dicent montibus et petris: "cadite super nos, et abscondite nos a facie sedentis super thronum et ab ira agni," quando veniet dies magnus ire ipsorum, et quis poterit stare, sicut legitur in apocalypsi. Quare quoad eos necessaria est fortitudo, ut per illam trahantur inviti. De prima, scilicet fortitudine potest intelligi, quod dicit apostolus: Omnes rapiemur, scilicet fortitudine dei "obviam Christo in aera". Et quod salvator in evangelio dicit: "Cum exaltatus fuero a terra, omnia traham ad me ipsum," scilicet fortitudine. De secundo vero legitur in libro regum: "Extendet super Jerusalem funiculum Samarie et pondus domus Achab."

De ambabus dicit psalmista: "Funes peccatorum circumplexi sunt me." Et sic omnes educentur per apostolos in illa sagena. Nam ut ait apostolus: "Omnes stabimus ante tribunal dei, recepturi prout in corpore gessimus."

Educent autem nos ad litus, id est tribunal omnipotentis dei, quod proprie litori comparatur. Nam sicut litus est terminus navigancium, sic idem tribunal est terminus et finis omnium in hoc seculo fluctuancium. Postquam autem educent nos, tunc erunt sedentes secus litus, id est tribunal, ut supra dictum est, sicut ait salvator in evangelio: "Cum sederit filius hominis in sede maiestatis sue, sedebitis et vos super sedes duodecim, iudicantes duodecim tribus Israhel." Et eligent ad iudicantes domino nostro bonos in vasa, id est ascribent eos in eterna tabernacula, ubi pax est et gaudium, suo recto iudicio. Malos autem foras mittent, id est ad gehennam perpetuam condempnabunt, ubi est fletus et stridor dencium; quod fiet in verbo dei, dum dicet bonis: "Venite benedicti patris mei, percipite regnum" etc. Ad malos autem: "Ite maledicti in ignem eternum," sicut legitur in evangelio Mathei.

Quo iudicio finito statim angeli tanquam ministri et executores dictarum sentenciarum et iudicii separabunt malos de medio iustorum et mittent eos in caminum ignis, ut sequitur in verbo evangelii premissi. Nam ipsi sunt ministri verbi dei, ut de eis psalmista dicit: "Benedicite domino omnes angeli eius, potentes virtutes facientes verbum illius ad audiendam vocem sermonum eius. Benedicite domino omnes virtutes eius ministri, qui facitis voluntatem eius."

Sequitur autem in verbis premissis: "Intellexistis hec omnia?" Dicunt ei: "Eciam." Interrogatoria sunt hec verba. Unde cum dominus proposuisset discipulis suis predictas tres parabolas, interrogabat eos verbis hiis: Intellexistis hec omnia? Interrogabit autem eos, non quia de eorum sciencia dubitaret, quia omnia novit, antequam fiant, sed ut interrogando intellectum eorum ad sui cognicionem alcius elevaret, quod nobis in persona Petri liquide in evangelio Mathei demonstratur, cui interrogato, "quem homines dicunt filium [hominis]," respondenti: "Tu es Christus, filius dei vivi," statim a domino dictum est: "Caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi, sed pater meus, qui est in celis." Ecce quomodo ad interrogacionem discipulorum intellectus fuerat continue elevatus, unde protinus responderunt: "Eciam domine." Dominus igitur elevacionem intellectus eorum conspiciens, ac ipsos ad capienda verba sue sancte doctrine ferventes considerans, ipsosque adhuc amplius allicere et invitare cupiens, premia celestia eis pro mercede pollicetur, dicens: "Ideo omnis scriba doctus in regno coelorum similis est patri familias, qui profert de thesauro suo nova et vetera." Et bene dicit scriba doctus, qui videlicet verbo doctrine et exemplo bone vite eos erudiendo instruit et informat.

Nam qui docent et non faciunt, vocantur quidem scribe, sed non docti, ut [dicit] in evangelio Mathei: "Super cathedram Moysi[s] sederunt scribe et farisei, sed doctrinam eorum facite, secundum opera eorum nolite facere." Ecce, quod vocantur scribe, sed non docti. Ideo non omnis scriba, sed dumtaxat scriba doctus similis est homini patri familias, qui de thesauro suo profert nova et vetera. Thesaurus enim est divicie successive recondite. Sicut igitur pater familias tempore opportunitatis et necessitatis pro terrena gloria de thesauro suo profert nova, que noviter recondidit, et vetusta, que dudum reservavit: sic scriba doctus de thesauro suo, quem spiritu sancto inspirante in corde suo recondidit, pro gloria in celesti patria adeptura ad erudicionem et iustificacionem aliorum sua sancta predicacione et erudicione novi et veteris testamenti misteria salubriter profert et exponit. Recte enim tales sunt scribe docti, de quibus legitur in Daniele: "Qui autem docti fuerint, fulgebunt" etc. et qui ad iusticiam erudiunt multos, quasi stelle in perpetuas eternitates.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Matt.13.47 — Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea and gathering fish of every kind.
  2. ↩Mark.16.15 — And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
  3. ↩Mark.16.15 — And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
  4. ↩Ps.69.1 — To the choirmaster. According to Shoshannim. Of David.
  5. ↩Ps.69.15;Ps.125.4-Ps.125.5 — Deliver me from the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Ps.125.4 — Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in their hearts. Ps.125.5 — As for those who turn to crooked ways, the LORD will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
  6. ↩Matt.4.19 — And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.'
  7. ↩Luke.5.10 — And so also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people alive.'
  8. ↩Matt.13.47 — Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea and gathering fish of every kind.
  9. ↩Ps.19.4 — There is no speech, and there are no words; their voice is not heard.
  10. ↩John.15.22 — If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
  11. ↩Luke.21.22 — For these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
  12. ↩Matt.5.18 — For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.
  13. ↩Luke.5.4-Luke.5.10;Luke.21.22 — When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch." Luke.5.5 — And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled through the whole night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets." Luke.5.6 — And when they had done this, they enclosed a great number of fish, and their nets were breaking. Luke.5.7 — They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so that they began to sink. Luke.5.8 — When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.' Luke.5.9 — For astonishment had seized him and all who were with him, at the catch of the fish that they had taken; Luke.5.10 — And so also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people alive.' Luke.21.22 — For these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
  14. ↩Rev.6.9-Rev.6.10 — And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had held. Rev.6.10 — And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, the Holy and True, do You not judge and avenge our blood from those who dwell on the earth?'
  15. ↩Rev.6.11 — And a white robe was given to each of them, and it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who were about to be killed as they also had been, would be fulfilled.
  16. ↩Matt.24.35 — Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
  17. ↩Matt.13.47-Matt.13.48 — Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea and gathering fish of every kind. Matt.13.48 — which, when it was full, they hauled to shore and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the rotten they threw away.
  18. ↩Luke.8.5-Luke.8.8;Gal.6.8 — The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled down, and the birds of the sky devoured it. Luke.8.6 — And some fell on the rock, and when it grew up, it withered because it had no moisture. Luke.8.7 — Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. Luke.8.8 — And other seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, 'Let anyone with ears to hear, listen!' Gal.6.8 — For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
  19. ↩Ps.125.5 — As for those who turn to crooked ways, the LORD will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
  20. ↩John.6.44 — No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
  21. ↩John.14.21 — The one who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.
  22. ↩John.3.20 — For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his deeds may not be exposed.
  23. ↩Rev.6.16-Rev.6.17 — And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Rev.6.17 — For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?
  24. ↩1Thess.4.17 — Then we who are alive, who are left behind, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
  25. ↩John.12.32 — And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
  26. ↩2Kgs.21.13;2Kgs.21.13 — I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem clean as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 2Kgs.21.13 — I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem clean as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
  27. ↩Rom.14.10;2Cor.5.10 — But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 2Cor.5.10 — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what has been done through the body, whether good or evil.
  28. ↩Matt.13.49-Matt.13.50;Matt.25.32-Matt.25.33 — So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the wicked from among the righteous. Matt.13.50 — and they will throw them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt.25.32 — And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matt.25.33 — And he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at his left.
  29. ↩Ps.103.20 — Bless the LORD, you his angels, mighty in strength, who do his word, listening for the voice of his word.
  30. ↩Ps.103.21 — Bless the LORD, all you his hosts, you his servants who do his will.
  31. ↩Matt.13.51 — Have you understood all these things? They said to him, Yes.
  32. ↩Matt.13.51 — Have you understood all these things? They said to him, Yes.
  33. ↩Matt.13.52 — Then he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure new things and old."
  34. ↩Matt.23.2-Matt.23.3 — saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves on Moses' seat." Matt.23.3 — Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and observe; but do not do according to their works, for they say and do not do.
  35. ↩Matt.13.52 — Then he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure new things and old."
  36. ↩Matt.13.52 — Then he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure new things and old."
  37. ↩Dan.12.3 — And those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
  38. ↩Dan.12.3 — And those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩The metaphor of four ropes (funēs) drawing the spiritual net is sustained from the preceding section. 'Bonis' (ablative of means) rendered as 'by these two' to preserve the instrumental sense.
  2. 2 ↩Quotation attributed to John's Gospel; exact Vulgate wording and verse reference pending Moses resolution.
  3. 3 ↩Traxerit (perfect subjunctive) rendered as 'has drawn' to capture the completed-action sense within the conditional clause.
  4. 4 ↩Quotation attributed to John's Gospel; exact Vulgate wording and verse reference pending Moses resolution.
  5. 5 ↩The explanatory gloss 'scilicet tracti in caritate et dileccione' is embedded in the translation to preserve the author's interpretive layer.
  6. 6 ↩Quotation attributed to the psalmist; exact psalm and verse reference pending Moses resolution.
  7. 7 ↩'In preclaris' rendered as 'in splendid places' to capture the sense of favorable or glorious settings; the metaphor continues the rope imagery.
  8. 8 ↩ut at token 24 rendered as 'as follows' (result/complementizer ambiguity resolved contextually: the gospel passage describes what the angels' action accomplishes).
  9. 9 ↩Quotation from Psalm 103:20 (Vulgate) / Psalm 104:4 (Hebrew numbering). The Latin preserves the Vulgate imperative 'Benedicite' and the participial phrase 'potentes virtutes facientes verbum illius.'
  10. 10 ↩ut at token 6 rendered as 'as' introducing an indirect statement (complementizer reading chosen over purpose).
  11. 11 ↩Quotation from Psalm 103:21 (Vulgate) / Psalm 104:4b (Hebrew numbering). Continuation of the psalm passage begun in the previous sentence.
  12. 12 ↩alcius (comparative of alte/altius) rendered as 'to a deeper recognition' — the unusual comparative form is glossed as a heightened degree of knowledge/acknowledgment of Christ

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