Quomodo Dominus apparuit Petro
The First Fruits of Resurrection
The Lord appears to Peter and Joseph of Arimathea to restore their hope and confirm their faith.
When Mary Magdalene and her companions returned home and told the disciples that the Lord had risen, Peter—grieving because he hadn't seen his Lord and unable to rest because of the intensity of the love he had for Him—suddenly left the others to go look for the Lord, and he walked toward the tomb alone. For he didn't know where else to look. So as he was walking, the Lord appeared to him on the road, although the Evangelist did not specify where or at what hour this happened. Then Peter, seeing the Lord, fell to the ground and asked for forgiveness for having abandoned and denied Him so many times; the Lord, however, forgiving his sins and comforting him with His presence, told him to strengthen his brothers as well. They stand together, speaking to each other with joy, and in this way, a great Passover is celebrated. He appeared to Peter individually, therefore, because Peter had denied Him individually. Of all the men whom the Evangelists and Apostles mention, the Lord chose to appear to Peter first for several reasons: first, because he was the first to confess that He was the Christ, and he deserved to be the first to see His Resurrection; second, to restore his mind, which had wavered during the Passion, so that he who had fallen more clearly through fear of His Passion might rise again sooner through the hope of the Resurrection; third, to show that the sin of his threefold denial had been forgiven, comforting him so he would not despair; fourth, to consolidate his apostolic order and strengthen him in it; fifth, to teach him by his own example how he ought to condescend to his own penitent subjects, no matter how much they had sinned; sixth, to give all sinners hope of mercy and forgiveness, showing that He does not despise sinners; seventh, one may add, according to Chrysostom, who says: 'For He did not reveal Himself to all at once, so that He might sow the seeds of faith.' For he who had seen Him first, and was certain, reported it to the others; then the message going forth prepared the mind of the listener for the vision. And so, he appeared first to the one who was the most worthy and the most faithful of all. It was necessary for a soul of such great faith, being the first to receive this sight, to be spared any shock from an unexpected vision. After Peter, he appeared to others—sometimes to a few, sometimes to many. That is what Chrysostom says; and Peter, having received this blessing from the Lord, remained deeply faithful to God in all things, both toward the Lady and toward the disciples. Peter means 'obedience,' and he serves as a type of those who obey, to whom the Lord often deigns to appear. Departing then from Peter, the Lord Jesus appeared to Joseph of Arimathea. It is often read in the Gospel of the Nazarenes that when the Jews heard that Joseph had asked for the body of Jesus and had buried it so honorably in the tomb, they were indignant against him. That same evening, they seized him and locked him away in a room, carefully closed and sealed, binding him to a pillar in that very prison, intending to kill him after the Sabbath. Then, immediately on the very day of the Resurrection, the Lord entered to him while the house was suspended by four angels, and appeared to him in the light. He comforted him, wiped his face, gave him a kiss, and then, with the seals still intact, led him out and set him free, bringing him to his own home in Arimathea. See how the Lord doesn't forget his own, nor does he abandon them entirely, but comforts them and helps them in his own time, because he himself is a helper in times of need and in tribulation. Thus, when the faithful of God have come to their end, and he sees his own being severely afflicted and their adversaries acting with a certain tyranny of impiety against them—or rather, in a drunken madness of mind—he demonstrates the power of his divinity through signs. That is what Chrysostom says regarding Nicodemus. Because of the act of the Jews, the name Joseph is interpreted as 'increase' or 'addition' through long age, and he represents those who persevere in good works, to whom the Lord himself often deigns to appear.
The Hunger of the Faithful
James the Less is comforted by the Lord after his long fast, illustrating the Lord's care for those who hunger for Him.
The Lord also appeared that same day to James the Less, as mentioned in the letter to the Corinthians. This is touched upon. He had vowed and sworn while in chains that he wouldn't eat bread from the moment he drank the cup of the Lord until he saw Him risen from the dead. He had drunk the cup of the Lord, until he saw Him risen from the dead. Since James hadn't tasted food until the day of the Resurrection, the Lord appeared and said to him and those with him, 'Set the table and the bread.' Then, taking the bread, He blessed it, broke it, and gave it to James, saying, 'My brother, eat your bread, for the Son of Man has risen from the dead.' Josephus reports this, and Jerome similarly in his book 'On Illustrious Men,' describing how he who hungered not only for substantial bread but also for the supersubstantial—that is, Jesus—deserved to be comforted by both. For the Lord doesn't let those who hunger for Him, or who suffer need for His sake, go without; He provides food to those who hope in Him at the right time and fills them with His blessing. The name James is interpreted as 'wrestler,' and he represents those who are strong in temptations and who manfully trample down vices. The Lord often shows Himself in the morning. ... Festive. Be like Peter in obedience, like James in rooting out vices, and like Joseph in moving from virtue to virtue; persevere in this, for the Lord won't forget to visit you with His grace and to console you in the way He knows is best for you.
The Many Faces of Consolation
A survey of the Lord's various appearances reveals His consistent desire to turn sorrow into joy and provide divine revelation.
And you should know that the Lord never leaves a soul to whom He deigns to appear—in whatever form—without consolation and some wholesome revelation, as is clear in all the appearances that took place after the Resurrection. For He appeared to His Mother, Mary—who was grieving over His death more than anyone else and waiting for His Resurrection—in a way that was swift and glorious, turning all her sorrow into joy; and so, she forgot all her former pain. He also comforted Mary Magdalene, who was weeping, when He appeared to her as a gardener, calling her by name and saying, "Mary." At this word, she was immediately changed, comforted, and taught; recognizing the Lord, she said with great joy, "Rabboni!" The Lord then revealed the mystery of His will to her, saying, "Go to my brothers and tell them: I am ascending to my Father." Likewise, He comforted the three women He met, saying, "Greetings," and then adding, "Do not be afraid," and He revealed His mystery to them, saying, "Go, announce to my brothers that they should go into Galilee; there they will see me." He also appeared to the two disciples walking on the road in the guise of a traveler, to whom He opened the meaning of the Scriptures and made their hearts burn, and finally, in the breaking of the bread, He fully comforted them by making Himself known. Likewise, when He appeared... ...to the disciples gathered together, He comforted them in His own form, saying, "Peace be with you." "Why are you troubled?" "It is I; do not be afraid. Look at my hands and my feet." And He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures; and in the same way, God comforts those who see Him in any of His other appearances with some revelation, so that there is no doubt. In the same way, he comforted his own beloved ones here, too.1 And it should be noted that divine consolation is acquired: first, through fear; second, through compunction or the devotion of tears; third, through the endurance of trials; fourth, through self-humiliation; fifth, through the avoidance of worldly consolation; and sixth, through the contemplation of heavenly things.2
Jubilation in the Paradise of Delights
The Lord visits the holy Fathers in Limbo, bringing them into the fullness of His glory and inviting the reader to join their praise.
The Lord Jesus then departed from that place, because He had not yet visited the holy Fathers after His Resurrection, whom He had left behind in the paradise of delights. He returned to them, therefore, proceeding in a white robe with a multitude of Angels; and when they saw Him from afar in such glory, they received Him with unspeakable joy, exultation, and jubilation, with songs and praises, and falling to the ground, they adored Him; then, rising and standing before Him, they reverently and joyfully completed their praises fervently and with all the devotion they could. Oh, what kind and how great were the joys there, where such a gathering of Saints was singing together! Oh, how good and how pleasant it is to be present at such things, or at least to perceive something of them! Draw near, then, you too, if you are permitted, and join in their praises, or at least listen from afar, and rejoice in Him. s. PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, grant that I may follow Peter by obeying, James by uprooting vices, and Joseph by progressing from virtue to virtue through growth, and by persevering in this through long-suffering; so that You, who deigned to visit them in their anguish, may visit me. They had His presence, they deserved it; so they rejoice! in the heavens.
The Journey to Emmaus
The narrative introduces the sorrowful journey of the two disciples toward Emmaus on the day of the Resurrection.
He appeared to me. On the day of the Lord's Resurrection, two of the seventy-two disciples left Jerusalem and were walking to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem—that is, seven thousand five hundred paces to the west. Eight stadia make one mile, so it was seven and a half miles from Jerusalem, though some say two or three make a league. Luke mentions the name of one of these two, Cleopas, but out of humility, he leaves the other's name unsaid. According to Gregory, it's believed to have been Luke himself, but according to Ambrose, it's thought to have been Amaon, the son of Rufus. As they talked to each other, almost in despair about Jesus and everything that had happened—specifically his life and death—they were deeply sorrowful because he had been killed, even though he was innocent and without fault.
Read the original Latin
Cum ergo Magdalena et sociae ejus redeuntes domum, narrassent discipulis resurrexisse Dominum, Petrus Aioerens quod Dominum suum non viderat, nec quiescere valens, propter amoris vehementiam, quatn ad eum habebat, discessit subito ab aliis ad quaerendum Dominum, et solus ibat versus sepulchrum. Nesciebat enim, ubieumalibi quaereret. Dum ergo pergeret, Dominus in via ei apparuit, licet Evangelista ubi vel qua hora factum sit, non designaverit. TuncPetrus vidensDominum, procidit in terram, et veniam petiit de hoc quod eum dereliquit, et pluries negarit ; Dominus autem sibi peccata dimittens, et eum consolando confortans , dicit ei ut confirmet etiam fratres suos. Stant simul, et cum gaudio colloquuntur ad invicem, et fit hic similiter Pascha magnum. Singulariter ergo Petro apparuit, qui singulariter eum negavit. Omnium autem virorum, quos Evangelistae et Apostoli commemorant, primo Dominus Petro pluribus de causis seu rationibus apparere voluit : prima est , quia primo confessus est eum Christum esse, primo Resurrectionem ejus merebatur videre; secunda, ut mentem ejus, quae in Passione titubaverat, reformaret, et qui timore Passionis ejus evidentius ceciderat, per spem Resurrectionis prius resurgeret ; tertia, ut peccatum trinae negationis ei indultum ostenderet, consolans eum ne desperaret; quarta, ut apostolus ejus ordinem consolidaret, et ipsum in eo roboraret; quinta, ut eum facto doceret qualiter subditis suis poenitentibus condescendere deberet, quantumcunque peccassent; sexta, utpeccatoribus omnibus spem misericordiae et veniae daret, ostendendo quod peccatores non despiceret; septima potest addi, secundum Chrysosto^ mum, qui dicit : a Non enim simul omnibus %e manifestabat, ut sereret fideisemina. Nam quiprimo viderat, et certus erat, aliis referebat ; deinde sermo prodiens praeparabat animum audiloris visioni.
Et ideo primo digniori et fideliori omnibus apparuit. Erat enim opus animae fide-ilissimae, quae prius acciperet huiic aspectum , ut minime turbaretur inopinata visione. Post Petrum vero aliis apparuit, quandoque paucioribus, quandoque pluribus : » haec Chrysostomus, Petrus vero benedictione a Domino accepta ad Dominam, ct ad disclceps in omnibus multum lidelii Deo permaniit. Petrus interpretatur obedieiu, et typura obedieniiLe gerit, quibuE Dominus sEepius appaArwathia. — DiscedenB igiiur Dominua Jesus a Petro, apparuit Joseph ab Arimalhia, qui eum sepe* legitur in FvBngelio Nazaraeorum, m audissent Judxi, quod Joseph Klato corpus Jesu petiissel, et lum ita tionorifice in monumento sut> sepelisset, tuni: indignati adver3US eum, ceperunt ipsum eadem vespera qua sepelivit Dominum, et in quodam cubiculo diligenter clftusa et sigillato recludentes incarceraverunt, alligantes eumadcolumnam Ln ipso carcere, et volentes post sabbaium cvta occidcre. Et occe statim in ipsa die Rcsurrectionis, suspensa domo a quatuor Angelis Dominus ad eom intravit, et ei litus apparuit; eumque consolans faciem ejus e%tersit , et osculum dedit, ac deinde, salvis sigillis, eura educens et liberans, in domum suam in Arimalhia ipsum adduxit. Vide quomodo Dominus suos non obliviscitur, nec derelinqtirt usquequaque, sed tandera cos con-solatur ei adjuvat suo lempore, quia ipse est adjvtor iir opporCu^iiaiibus , in tribulathie. Unde Mos siquidem Dei fld cumuluin suum venerint, eumqne viderit suos graviter affligi , et adversarios tyrannide quadam contra se impietatis artoUi, vel potius mentis ebrieinte bacctiflri , divinitatis suK potentiam per signa demonstret ; n Hkc Chrysoslomus, Nicodemum ' tuissc.
propter ractum JudsorumJoaeph inierprclatur a ugme» tum, vel appositio pcr longara setatem, ei typum gerit peraeveraniium in bono opere, quibus saspe ipse Dominus dignatur apparere.
Apparuit etiara Dominus ipsa die Jacobi Minori, utin epistola ad CorinthiO! tangitur. Qui in ctena devoverat e juraverat se noo comesturum pa nem ab illa hora qua calicem. Domini biberat, doncc eum a n tuis surrexisse videret. Cum ergo usque ad diem Resurreciionis ' cobus cibum non gusiasset, apparens Dominus dixit ci, et bis qui cum eodem erant : Ponite men et panem ; deinde panem accipiens, benedixit ac Eregit, et post dedir jacobo, diccns ei : Fraier mi^ comede panem tuum, quia Filiuj' hominis a mortuis resurrcxit. Isltf refert Josephtts, el similiter HierOH nymus in libro de viris illustribuiVidc quomodo hic qui nen solun panem substanlialcm , scd cIiBill supersubstantiBtcra, scilicet Jesum, esuriebat, utroque consoIarietrefie| meruit. Non cnim permiitit Domi-^ nus illoB qui cum vel propter e esuriunt, vei incdia dcficere; dat in se seperantibus escam op— portuno tempore , et implet eo* bcncdiciione. Jacobus interpret&ttiV luctator, el typum gerit eorum qiq in tcntalionibus fortcs sunt, et vitia viriliter supplantant , quiburf.
etiara Dominus frcquenter se mani. ? festal. Esto ergo Petrus obediendo^ esto Jacobus vilia supplantando , esto Joseph de virtute in vinuteiit proliciendo, ei in hoc perseverando; et non obKviscaiQr Dominus te pef suam gratiam visitare, et prout til^ expedire noverit, consolari.
Et sciendum, quc aniraam, cui sc Dominus in qua«' cunquc spccie dignatur ostoodere,, Oa ^7 nimquani dimittit sine cansolatione ct aliqua salubri revelatione, (|uod patet in omnibus apparitiom-bu& post Resurrectionem factts. Niam Mariae Matri suae prae ceteris plu» de morte ejus dolenti , et Resurrectionem ejus exspectanti totus festinus et gloriosus apparens, totum moerorem in laetitiam convertit; itaque omnis doloris pristini oblita fuit. Mariam etiam Magdalenam, cui in specie hortulani apparuit, plorantem cousolabatur, vocans eam proprio nomine et dicens : Maria^ quo verbo statim conversa, ac consolata et edocta cognoscens Dominum , cum gaudio magno dixit : Rabboni, revelavitqueei Dominus mysterium suae voluntatis, dicens : Vade ad fratres meos,et dic eis : Ascendo ad Patrem meum, Item, tres mulieres quibus occurrit, consolatus est, dicens : Avete, et deinde subjungens, nolite timere , eisque mysterium suum revelavit, dicens: Ite, annuntiate fatribus meis, ut eant in Galilceam, ibi me videbunt. Item, duobus discipulis euntibus in via STTparuit in specie peregrini, qurbus aperuit sensum Scripturae, et eorum corda fecit ardentia, et demum in fractione panis eos plene consolabatur sui notitia. Item, cum appa-. reret discipuiis congregatis in unum, in propria specie consolabatur eos, drcens : Pax vobis. Quid twrbati estis ? Ego sum , nolite timere, Videte manus meas, etpedesmeos; et aperuit illis sensum , irf inteUigerent Scripturas ; et sic similiter Deus in qualibet alia sua apparitioi ne con^atus est Tidentes se, cum aliqnia revdLatione, unde non dubi^um cst,.
quia similiter et hic istos suos dUectos consolatus mt. Et notandumy quod divina consolatio acquiritur : primo, per thnorem ; secundo, per iacrymationem, seu lacrymarum devotionem ; terlio per tribulationum sustinentiam ; quarto , per sui humiliationem ; quinto, per terrenae consolationis vitationem; sexto, per supernorum contempiationem.
Dominus igitur Jesus inde discessit, quia nondum sanctos Patres post Resurrectionem suam visitaverat , quos in paradiso deiiciarum dimiserat. Rediit ergo ad eos, procedens in stola candida, cum multitudine Angelorum ; quem ipsi in tanta gloria a longe conspicientes, cum indicibili gaudio , exsultatione et jubilo canticts et laudibus eum susceperunt, et procidentes in terram, adoravcrunt; deinde surgentes et stantes coram eo rever»nter et jucrmdc compleverunt laudes suas ferventcr et omni qua poterant devotione. O qualis quantus et quanta gaudia ibi erant, ubi tanta concio Sanctorum simul psallebat 1 O qoam boiram et quam jucundnra talibus interesse, vel saltem aliquid de hia percipere ! AppTopinqua ergo et tu si permitteris, et atdmiscere laudibos i&tis, vei saltem «uscuha a longe, et jucutidare in e? s. ORATIO Domine Jesu Christe, da ut «im Petrus obediendo, et J«cobu& vitia supplantando, ac Joseph, de virtute ia virtutcm per augmentum proficiendo, et in hoc pcr longanimitatem perseverando; ut tu qui iJlis in an6gJJ guEliis dignatus piliua visitare. iw ei pnEsentia habuerunt, dere menierunt; ita gaudent ! □ ccelis.
m i apparere. gratiai iignens el tne SEepe per li ut sicut sancti Patres gaudi post Resurrectionem tuaro glorili in illo InetTabili gaudb, quo ni : contpectu tuo semper gaudere K [ Pere die Itesurrectiunis Doiitini, duo ex septuaginta duobua discipulis e)us de JerusaleTn egressi, ibant in castellum mmine Emmaus, quod erat ab Jerusalem in spatia stadiorum sexaginta, id est septeni millibus quingentis passibus contra Occi^ denlem. Oclo quippe sladia faciunt milliare unum ; et sic dlstabat ab Jerusalem per septero milliaria et dlmidium, quorum duo, vcl secundum quosdam, tris faciunt unam leucam. Unius Istorum duorum , nomen exprimit Lueas, cui, inquiens, nomen CUopliaa ; alterius vero nnmen tacet causa humilitatis . quia, secundum Cregorium , creditur fuisse ipse Lucas, sed, secundum Ambrosium, putatur fuisse Amaon, lilius Rufi. Et cum ipsi, quasi desperaii de Jesu, ad invicem de his qucE acciderant, scilicet de ejus conversatione et morte tristea conferrent maxime dolentes, quia eum sine culpa et innocenler occi-
Notes
- 1 ↩The source text 'mt' is likely a corruption of 'et' or a truncated word; translated as a concluding particle consistent with the context of the previous section.
- 2 ↩The source text 'notandumy' is a typo for 'notandum'; 'thnorem' is a typo for 'timorem'; 'terlio' is a typo for 'tertio'; 'contempiationem' is a typo for 'contemplationem'.
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