The fifth day. Judith 6. Five spiritual days arrived before the coming of Christ. The first day was the eternal preordination of the Father. The second was the promise made by the Father. The third was His prefiguration in the Law The "Law" refers to the Torah or Old Testament regulations which were seen as symbolic shadows of Christ.. The fourth was the preaching of Him by the Prophets. The fifth was the Incarnation of Christ itself. Regarding these five, that passage from Judith can be understood: In five days let the Lord look upon his people Israel. original: "In diebus quinque respiciat Dominus populum suum Israel." St. Thomas Aquinas, Book 1, Distinction 25, Pentecost.

The first journey into Galilee. Mystically, because Jesus goes into Galilee twice, the two comings of the Savior into the world are shown: the first of mercy, as He cheers the guests with wine made from water; the second, however, as He raises the son of the royal official who was led almost to death—that is, the people of the Jews. Origen, Treatise 18 on John.

The sending of Jacob for the goats. Genesis 27. Rebecca speaks to her younger son: go to the flock, and bring me two young goats from there; prefiguring the fleshly coming of the Savior—and because he is commanded to bring two, the adoption of two peoples Likely referring to the Jews and the Gentiles. is signified. St. Isidore, Chapter 23 on Genesis.

TITLE III.

ETERNITY.

Bronze. Fittingly, the bronze serpent was hung from a wooden pole; so that the Lord might be signified as dead in the serpent, and eternal in the bronze. original: "æneus Serpens... in ære significaretur æternus." Bronze was a symbol of durability and eternity in medieval symbolism. St. Isidore, Chapter 20 on Numbers.

The gemmed crown is eternity. St. Thomas Aquinas, Book 1, on the feast of St. Stephen. A fourfold crown will be given to the Saints. The Silver Crown: because silver is bright, it will be the brightness of the body. The Starry Crown: will be the perfect knowledge of all things. The Gemmed Crown will be eternity in all these things. St. Thomas, Book 1.

TITLE IV.

FRIEND.

The Right Hand. He will turn to the right, by which friends are signified—to the left, enemies—to the flesh of the arm, that is, blood relatives. St. Thomas on Isaiah 9.

Riches. Note that a faithful friend is the most precious kind of wealth. St. Thomas on Book 2 of Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy, Prose 8.

The Fountain. Friendship is the fountain of all good things and of all gifts which come to us from heavenly munificence. St. Bernard, Opuscula or Treatise on Charity, Chapter 12.

Glory. Friendship is glory for the rich, wealth for the poor, a homeland for exiles, strength for the weak, medicine for the sick, and life for the dead. Cassiodorus, Prologue to the Book on Friendship, as cited by Lobbet in The Glory of the Father regarding St. Francis of Assisi.

The Foot. Through feet and walking, we understand His coming and presence. St. John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, Book 1, Chapter 14. The feet of the Son of God are understood as His Incarnation, which is subject to Divinity just as the feet are to the head. — The shoes of our Lord Christ mystically signify His Incarnation — of which Psalm 107 says: into Edom I will stretch out my shoe — the steps of the Son of God are His coming into the world and His return to the Father. St. Jerome.

Summary of the Essence of God. This summary is found in the works of St. Bonaventure at the end of the second volume, and is ascribed to him as is proven there.

The Rain. Christ the Lord in His first coming descended like rain upon Gideon’s fleece with humility: in the second coming, however, they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. original: "Filium hominem venientem in nubibus cum virtute magna, & gloria." St. Jerome, cited by St. Thomas in the Catena on Mark 13.

Gideon’s Procession to War. Gideon, therefore, coming to battle, signifies the coming of our Redeemer, about whom it is written: Lift up your gates, O princes, Psalm 23. — For "Gideon" was interpreted as "one going around in the womb." This is a medieval etymological interpretation of the name Gideon, linking him to the Incarnation. St. Isidore, Chapter 5 on Judges.

6. concerning the dead.

Morning. It is called eternity. The same author Isidore or Jerome on Psalm 5.

The Wall of Jerusalem. The walls of the heavenly Jerusalem are the defenses of eternity and immortality, which the Saints have attained through Christ. The same author on Psalm 50.

The Eighth Day is the time of the world to come. St. Isidore, Chapter 10 on Leviticus. The number eight is used for this reason: because it bears the figure of the future age. St. John Damascene, Sermon on the Transfiguration of the Lord.

The Hand. The Venerable Bede calls our hand a "necessary friend," cited by St. Thomas in the Catena on Mark 9. But if your hand causes you to stumble, Matthew 18. He does not say this of bodily limbs, but of friends whom we hold in the rank of necessary members. St. Chrysostom, cited by St. Thomas in the Catena on Matthew 18. In the hand and foot, necessary friends are designated: in the hand, because of work; in the foot, because of movement term: "discursum" — literally "running about," referring here to the active help or travel a friend provides.. Haymo, Homily on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel.

The Eye is called a Friend. Venerable Bede cited by St. Thomas in the Catena on Mark 9. By "the eye," understand a useful friend and counselor. Haymo, cited above.

The Foot is called a friend because of the service of movement. Venerable Bede, cited above.