The Angels and the Shepherds (Luke 2:8–20)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On why the good tidings came to shepherds and not to the scribes at Jerusalem:

To Joseph the Angel appeared in a dream, as to one who might be easily brought to believe, but to the shepherds in visible shape as to men of a ruder nature. ... There is a certain road which leads by innocence to Philosophy.

On the angels who once were sent to punish now singing thanksgiving:

Of old, indeed, Angels were sent to punish, as, for instance to the Israelites, to David, to the men of Sodom, to the valley of weeping. Now on the other hand they sing the song of thanksgiving to God: because He has revealed to them His coming down to men.

On the exchange by which heaven and earth are joined:

He first brings Angels down to men, and then brings men up to heaven. The heaven became earth, when it was about to receive earthly things.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the name "Christ" set in the midst of "Savior" and "Lord":

But that which is in the middle, namely, Christ, has reference to the adoration, and signifies not the nature, but the compound substance of two natures.

On the peace the angels proclaim, made through Christ:

This peace has been made through Christ, for He has reconciled us by Himself to God and our Father, having taken away our guilt, which was the ground of offense also. He has united two nations in one man, and has joined the heavenly and the earthly in one flock.

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St. Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the sign of the swaddling clothes and the manger:

If you believe the mean things, believe also the mighty. If you dispute about those which betoken His lowliness, look with reverence on what is high and heavenly.

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Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

(Origen offers what follows as "a more hidden meaning" — a tentative mystical reading; some of his speculations were later condemned in 553.)

On the shepherd-angels who keep watch over the affairs of men:

But if we would rise to a more hidden meaning, I should say, that there were certain shepherd angels, who direct the affairs of men, and while each one of them was keeping his watch, an angel came at the birth of the Lord, and announced to the shepherds that the true Shepherd had arisen. For Angels before the coming of the Savior could bring little help to those entrusted to them, for scarcely did one single Gentile believe in God. But now whole nations come to the faith of Jesus.

On how the angels' song of peace agrees with the Lord's word that He came not to send peace:

But the attentive reader will ask, How then does the Savior say, I came not to send peace on the earth, whereas now the Angels' song of His birth is, On earth peace to men? It is answered, that peace is said to be to men of goodwill. For the peace which the Lord does not give on the earth is not the peace of good will.

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St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the care with which God builds up our faith through angelic teaching:

Observe with what care God builds up our faith. An Angel teaches Mary; an Angel teaches Joseph; an Angel the shepherds also, of whom it is said, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field.

On the haste of the shepherds:

And they came in haste. For no one indolently seeks after Christ.

On Mary keeping and pondering these things in her heart:

Let us learn the chastity of the sacred Virgin in all things, who no less chaste in her words than in her body, gathered up in her heart the materials of faith.

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St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On why the vision was granted to shepherds keeping watch:

It was in a mystery that the angel appeared to the shepherds while they were watching, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, implying that they are thought worthy above the rest to see sublime things who take a watchful care of their faithful flocks; and while they themselves are piously watching over them, the Divine grace shines widely round about them.

On the angels rejoicing that their number is completed:

At the same time they also give praises because their voices of gladness accord well with our redemption, and while they behold our acceptance, they rejoice also that their number is completed.

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St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the sign that the newborn Savior would be wrapped in poor swaddling clothes:

the sign given us of the newborn Savior was, that He would be found not clothed in Tyrian purple, but wrapped in poor swaddling clothes, not laying on gilded couches, but in a manger.

On the multitude of the heavenly host that follows the single angel:

Lest the authority of a single Angel should appear small, as soon as one had revealed the sacrament of the new birth, straightway there was present a multitude of the heavenly host.

On why they sing both peace to men and glory to God:

But because He is both God and man, rightly do they sing Peace to men and Glory to God.