John 16:21
Douay-Rheims
A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
Alcuin of York
The woman is the holy Church, who is fruitful in good works, and brings forth spiritual children unto God. This woman, while she brings forth, i. e. while she is making her progress in the world, amidst temptations and afflictions, hath sorrow because her hour is come; for no one ever hated his own flesh.
Source details
A.D. 804 · as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on John 16:16-22
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.