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Our breasts, by which we are nursed by the Lord, are the prosperity of temporal things and the comfort of friends. When God sees that men trust too much in these things and are enticed by them, He withdraws them and adds bitterness, so that they may place their hope in God alone. original: "Ubera nostra... ut ponant in solo DEO spem suam." St. Thomas Aquinas on Psalm 30.

TITLE V.

ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE

He is that trumpet (that is, St. Andrew) which Christ, in order to fashion, used the cross as a hammer, the Gospel as an anvil, the Spirit as fire, and the New and Old Testaments as—if I may dare to say—the bellows. Hesychius, Priest of Jerusalem, Oration on St. Andrew.

According to Hebrew etymology, Andrew is interpreted as comely or responding; however, in the Greek language, he is called manly. original: "decorus, sive respondens... virilis." St. Isidore of Seville, Etymologies, book 7, chapter 9. Andrew is interpreted as Fortitude. St. Thomas Aquinas on Matthew 4.

TITLE VI.

ANGEL.

Angels are our unconquered helpers. St. Thomas Aquinas on Revelation, chapter 12. They are our friends. The same author on the Song of Solomon 6.
Friends of the King of all. Sophronius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, Praise of the Holy Angels.
Apostles. You are the Apostles, Preachers, Prophets, and Evangelists, and the interpreters of divine matters. The word "Apostle" means "one who is sent," which applies to angels as messengers. The same author, in the same place.
Waters. The firmament in the Church is understood as the divine scriptures, because "the heavens shall be folded up like a book." He placed certain waters, which are the Angels, above the firmament, because Angels have no need of the scriptures. original: "Aquas quasdam, quæ sunt Angeli... quia Angeli non egent scripturis." St. Isidore of Seville, chapter 2 on Genesis.
Architects of the Triumphant Church. The "Triumphant Church" refers to the Church in Heaven, as opposed to the "Militant Church" on Earth. Hermas, disciple of St. Paul, book 1, vision 3.
Weapons of God. The Angels are so called; He uses them to fight against the wicked. St. Thomas Aquinas on Psalm 34.
Cardinals of Christ. Consider that there (in the temple/church) Jesus is the Pope, and the Angels are the Cardinals. For this reason, you ought to stand in the choir with devotion and composure, just as you would stand if the King or the Pope were at Vespers. A vivid metaphor by the preacher Vincent Ferrer comparing the celestial hierarchy to the papal court. St. Vincent Ferrer, Sermon 7 for the Sunday after Easter.
Heaven. Angels are called heaven because of their total incorruptibility and the purity of their nature: for they have nothing of a physical body—in size they are the greatest, not by physical dimension, but by virtue and power—in quality they are bright like the heavens, through the clarity of knowledge and wisdom—in shape they are spherical through the continuity of their contemplation—the angelic affection is moved circularly

The Swallow. It flies to us in summer, but in winter it flies away. Such is a faithless friend. Pliny, book 10, chapter 24.

The foundation based on the Sapphire is suitable for St. Andrew. Weber, The Heavenly Journey, page 3.
Like a column, he was first fixed in the Church; he was "Peter before Peter," the foundation of the foundation; he was the beginning of the first fruits—opening that door (Christ) which perhaps had not yet been entered, etc. Hesychius, in the same place. He is a prophet when he said: come and you will see. A reference to Andrew's invitation to Peter in the Gospel of John. The same author. Where do you stay (O Christ)? said Andrew, so that I might become a doorkeeper in the Hall of the Lord. Andrew is the benefactor of Peter. The same author.

toward God, and from God toward the neighbor through love; and again, it is moved from the neighbor toward God through the extension of love. Revelation 7: They stood in a circle, etc. St. Bonaventure, Opuscule on the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, part 4, chapter 1.
Creation of Angels. To create can be called "to sow." Think of the whole world as being like a single field which God has sown. And first, He sowed nine furrows in heaven—that is, the nine orders of Angels—from pure seed, namely, spiritual substances—but "other seed fell by the wayside"—this seed was Lucifer, because he fell "by the wayside," that is, away from God. Referencing the Parable of the Sower to explain the fall of the angels. St. Vincent Ferrer, Sermon 4 for Sexagesima Sunday.
Our defenders. This "adversary" in Matthew 5 is the good Angel, who stands against us in our evil deeds to prevent us from sinning.. St. Bonaventure, Sermon on St. Michael.
Gods. The Angels themselves are sometimes called "gods." St. Thomas Aquinas in the Prologue to the Exposition on the Epistle to the Hebrews, on account of the most abundant radiance of divine charity. St. Dionysius the Areopagite calls them "gods" in The Celestial Hierarchy, chapter 2. The God of gods—that is, of Angels—shall be seen in Zion. Psalm 83. St. Vincent Ferrer, Sermon 3 for the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Innumerable army. The Angels are such. Sophronius, cited above.
Interpreters of the Divine Silence, and like brilliant lights; they reveal that which lies hidden in the inner sanctuaries. St. Dionysius the Areopagite, chapter 4 of On the Divine Names.
Flowers. They are the flowers of this world because the world is adorned by their brilliance, and they breathe out the good odor of Sanctification. St. Ambrose, book 7 on Luke.
Moon. Today the earth is illuminated by the light of the sun... Text ends mid-sentence.