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Locusts original: "Locustæ" are to be understood as wandering souls, leaping into the pleasures of the world. St. Isidore of Seville, commentary on Exodus, chapter 14.
Prostitute original: "Meretrix" is the one who receives demons into herself. The same author, Commentary on Leviticus, chapter 12.
Pot original: "Olla". The sinful soul is called a "pot" because of the heat of its lusts. Job 40, Micah 3, Nahum 3. St. Thomas Aquinas, on Jeremiah chapter 1. The sinful soul is called a pot—it should be noted that the aforementioned pot is set on fire by the heat of inordinate love, Psalm 79: "Set on fire," etc., and of anger and contention, Isaiah: "Behold, all of you [kindle a fire]," etc. The same author, in the same place.
Paralytic original: "Paralyticus" lying in a small bed is the soul made desolate by vices within its own body. St. Isidore, on allegories. What else is a soul burdened by vices than a listless paralytic? Hildebert of Tours, Archbishop, Synodal Sermon on Luke 12.
Partridge original: "Perdix". A soul captured by the devil is like a partridge; because just as a bird-catcher uses a captured partridge to entice and catch others, so the devil acts through such a soul, etc. St. Ephrem the Syrian, volume 1, on the right way of living, chapter 22.
Way original: "Via". This is the mind, worn down by the constant movement of evil thoughts, so that the seed of the Word is not able to sprout within it. The Venerable Bede, quoted by St. Thomas in the Golden Chain on Mark, chapter 4.
Birdlime original: "Viscus". Birdlime is a sticky substance used by hunters to trap birds on branches. A soul bound by earthly love has, as it were, birdlime on its wings. St. Augustine, on Psalm 122.
Hawk original: "Accipiter". Job 39. It signifies a contemplative person, flying on the wings of contemplation and prayer toward the South. The South is a warm and moist wind; contemplation warms through devotion and moistens through the shedding of tears, and the soul is renewed (just like a hawk). St. Vincent Ferrer, sermon 5, 20th day after Pentecost.
Stars original: "Astra". The dawn is the beginning of a good life; the stars are the good souls who go forth at the time of death. St. Bonaventure, f. 2, on the Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord.
Dove original: "Columba". Just as a certain tame and domestic dove, strolling through the stories of a house, if it senses a noise, flies away terrified to the roof and, lifting itself up high, anxiously seeks an exit and strives to be relieved of its fear: so was the soul of that blessed man (Daniel, during his vision in Daniel 8) forced to lift itself from the body and push outward from every part. And indeed it would have departed, flown away, and deserted its body, had not an Angel immediately freed him from his inward fear and called him back to his own lodging. St. John Chrysostom, homily 4, On the Nature of God.
Devoted to GOD. original: "DEO devota" Just as the Sun cannot help but shine, and as a rose cannot help but spread its scent, and as flowing water cannot help but irrigate the nearby lands; so the heart devoted to God cannot hide itself. St. Bonaventure, on St. Luke.
The Rush of a River. original: "Fluminis impetus" Psalm 45. Four rivers strike one another in the soul of a repenting sinner: namely, a river of oil, which is mercy; a river of honey, which is the Holy Spirit; a river of water, when he weeps; and a river of blood, when a man disciplines himself. It gladdens the city
of GOD, namely the Angels, because there is joy for them, Luke 15.—He has sanctified his tabernacle. When a man is in sins, he is a stable for pigs; but after the rush of the river has cleansed him, he is made into a chamber and a dwelling place of GOD. St. Vincent Ferrer, f. 1, on St. John the Baptist.
The Sword of GOD. original: "Framea DEI" What can our soul do, unless GOD holds it and fights with it? For any sword, even the best made, lies idle if it does not have a warrior. St. Augustine, on Psalm 34.
Swallow original: "Hirundo". The swallow takes its food while flying: so a holy soul in this life ought not to cling much to food, but enjoy it as if in flight, without the delay of lingering, and pass through such things quickly. The same author, f. 1, Palm Sunday.
The man from Jericho original: "Jerichuntinus" is the soul in Purgatory. Luke 10.
Left Half-Dead original: "Semivivus relinquitur". This is because the man has lost his bodily life, and only the life of the soul remains. He is helped by the Samaritan through wine, which is prayer, and oil, which is alms. He placed him upon his beast, which is the body: behold the bodily affliction. The same author, f. 1, 14th Sunday after Pentecost; see more here.
Lamp original: "Lucerna". Just as a lamp is not lit by itself, so the human soul does not provide light for itself, but cries out to GOD. Psalm 107: "You, Lord, will light my lamp." St. Augustine, on Psalm 109.
Ship original: "Navis" at sea is the mind in doubt. St. Augustine, on Psalm 54.
Partridge original: "Perdix". Think of the body as a forest, and the soul as a partridge hidden within it. The dogs surrounding it are the demons who are on the earth; the falcons are the demons who are in the air, like dust motes in a sunbeam; the men poking with sticks are the stinging pains of death, forcing the soul to come out, for it can no longer remain there. See, miserable soul, in what great pressure it finds itself at death. The same author, f. 1, 11th Sunday after Pentecost.
Nightingale original: "Philomela". As soon as it sees the dawn breaking and the rays of the sun shining in the morning, it sings with such great joy that it almost bursts; this signifies the soul which, in the darkness of this life, waits for the Sun of Justice; and when it senses His presence, it rejoices exceedingly. Such was that blessed old man, Simeon. Luke 2. St. Vincent Ferrer, f. 1, Palm Sunday.
The Quantity original: "Quantitas" of each soul is estimated by the measure of charity it possesses; for example, one who has much charity is "great"; one who has little is "small"; one who has none is "nothing," as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13: "If I have not charity, I am nothing." St. Bernard of Clairvaux, sermon 27 on the Song of Songs.
The Little King original: "Regulus" This refers to the "Official" or "Nobleman" in John 4:46-53, whose son was sick. is every man whose son—that is, his mind—is feverish with wicked pleasures. He approaches JESUS and begs Him to "descend," that is, to use the condescension of His mercy. Theophylact, quoted by St. Thomas, on John chapter 4.
Relic original: "Reliquia". The soul ought to be diligently guarded and preserved, as if it were a most precious relic. The same author, f. 2, Friday after Ash Wednesday.
Sunflower original: "Solsequium" Literally "sun-follower," likely referring to the heliotrope or marigold. opens at the rising of the Sun and closes at its setting: so the heart of the faithful soul ought to be open to GOD alone, but to the world it ought to be closed. The same author, in the same place.