Woman, Behold Your Son (John 19:25–27)

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

---

St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of John, Homily 85 (on John 19:25–27) Source: trans. G. T. Stupart, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 14. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf114.iv.lxxxvii.html

On "And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home," teaching care for parents to the last breath:

teaching us even to our last breath to show every care for our parents. ... But here He showeth much loving affection, and committeth her to the disciple whom He loved.

On the disciple who conceals his own name from modesty:

Again John conceals himself, in modesty; for had he desired to boast, he would have also put in the cause for which he was loved, since probably it was some great and wonderful one.

On the honour laid upon the disciple, and the reward of his steadfastness:

it was no little thing for him to be honored with such honor, and to receive the reward of steadfastness.

On the calm of the Crucified, who provides for His Mother even in His agony:

But do thou consider, I pray, how even on the cross He did everything without being troubled, speaking with the disciple concerning His mother, fulfilling prophecies, holding forth good hopes to the thief.

---

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book XII (on John 19:25–27) Source: trans. T. Randell, Library of Fathers, 1885. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_john_12_book12.htm

On "He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy Son," the care He took amid His own suffering:

He took thought for His mother, paying no heed to His own bitter agony, for His sufferings affected Him not. He gave her into the charge of the beloved disciple (this was John, the writer of this book), and bade him take her home, and regard her as a mother

On the honour of parents which the Lord confirmed from the cross:

He wished to confirm the command on which the Law lays so much stress. For what saith the Mosaic ordinance? Honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee.

On the Virgin's perplexity, and why He gave her to the best of guides:

Knowing, then, what was passing in her heart, He commended her to the disciple, the best of guides, who was able to explain fully and adequately the profound mystery.

---

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain.

On the Lord thinking of His mother while the soldiers did their work:

While the soldiers were doing their cruel work, He was thinking anxiously of His mother

---

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 119 (on John 19:25–27) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 7. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf107.iii.cxx.html

On this hour as the one foretold at Cana:

This, without a doubt, was the hour whereof Jesus, when about to turn the water into wine, had said to His mother, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." ... This hour, therefore, He had foretold, which at that time had not yet arrived, when it should be His to acknowledge her at the point of death, and with reference to which He had been born as a mortal man.

On the cross as the chair from which the Master taught care for parents:

The good Teacher does what He thereby reminds us ought to be done, and by His own example instructed His disciples that care for their parents ought to be a matter of concern to pious children: as if that tree to which the members of the dying One were affixed were the very chair of office from which the Master was imparting instruction.

---

St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain.

On John alone recording that the Mother stood by the cross:

Mary the mother of our Lord stood before the cross of her Son. None of the Evangelists hath told me this except John. ... John hath told us, what the others have not, how that from the cross whereon He hung, He called to His mother.

On filial piety as a richer work than the gift to the thief:

He thought it a greater thing to shew Him victorious over punishment, fulfilling the offices of piety to His mother, than giving the kingdom of heaven and eternal life to the thief. For if it was religious to give life to the thief, a much richer work of piety it is for a son to honour his mother with such affection.

On the Testament made from the cross:

Christ made His Testament from the cross, and divided the offices of piety between the Mother and the disciples.

On the Virgin looking not on His death but on the salvation of the world:

Mary, as became the mother of our Lord, stood before the cross, when the Apostles fled, and with pitiful eyes beheld the wounds of her Son. For she looked not on the death of the Hostage, but on the salvation of the world

---

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain.

On the beloved disciple, loved for his purity:

By the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Evangelist means himself; not that the others were not loved, but he was loved more intimately on account of his estate of chastity; for a Virgin our Lord called him, and a Virgin he ever remained.