Cornelius a Lapide

But he denied before them ally sayings 1 knoiv not what thou sayest. Fearihg he would be seized, and to obtain belief for his denial, he said that her question was so strange that he knew not what it meant. “I am so far from knowing who Jesus is, that I know not what it is you ask. For I know not whether He has disciples, or who and what they are” It was a lie ; just as when a person, if asked by Pagans whether he is a Christian, says he is not This is a sin against the profession of the faith, of which Peter had heard Christ's warnings and threatenings (Matt. x. 33). “But Peter,” says Victor of Antioch, “was in such consternation and agitation of mind as entirely to forget the Lord's threatening.” And hence S. Augustine (on John xviiL 65), commiserating his fall, exclaims, “Behold this most firm pillar tumbled at one single breath of air! Where is now that boldness of promising, that over - confidence in himself? Where are his words, ‘If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee'? But what marvel if God's prediction proved true, and man's presumption false?” Denied . How many times? Dionys. Carthus. says six times, thrice in the house of Annas. S. John implies, thrice in the VOL. iil Q £42 house of Caiaphas, as the other Evangelists expressly state (see S. Aug. de Cons. Evang. iii. 6). Cajetan (on John xviiL) says seven times, thrice when addressed by women, and four times by men. But the common opinion is that he denied only thrice. See S. Cyril on John xviii. ; S. Ambrose (Luke xxii.), and others. And this is clear from S. Matthew’s narrative, who sets foith the history succinctly, and in the best order. The Evangelists relate his threefold denials in different ways. But in order to reconcile them, observe that Peter first simply denied in the hall, when asked by the first damsel, next with an oath, when asked by the second, and thirdly, with cursing and swearing. Here observe that S. Hilary on this passage, and S. Ambrose on Luke xxii., seem to say that Pete: in denying Christ did not lie, but spoke ambiguously. For he said he knew not the man, because he knew Him to be God. “ I was not with Him whom ye call a man, but I withdrew not from the Son of God,” says S. Ambrose. I know not what thou sayest, — that is, I understand not your profanity. But S. . Jerome tacitly refutes them, as Christ does also by saying, “Thou shalt thrice deny Me.” But SS. Hilary and Ambrose can both be excused, because they merely meant to say that Peter’s words were so measured that a sound meaning could be elicited from them, that he spoke so ambiguously that his words of denial could be turned into a good meaning. 1. It is certain, therefore, that Peter sinned mortally. So S. Chrysostom here, and S. Augustine ( Tract, cxiii on John). He therefore lost by his denial the grace and love of God. But whether he lost his faith is doubtful. But if any one of the Apostles retained his faith it was Peter (see above, ver. 31), especially as he soon afterwards repented, and wept bitterly for his sin of denial. He therefore mentally retained his faith, which moved him to repentance and tears. 2. He was to fall thus gravely for three reasons. First (which is the source of all), from over-confidence ; next, because, though conscious of his weakness, he threw himself ONE SIN LEADS TO OTHERS. 243 into the company of the wicked men who had seized Jesus; and lastly, that he, the future head of the Church, might learn to have compassion for the fallen, and set a pattern of true penitence to all sinners. So S. Chrysostom, S. Leo (Serm. ix. de Pass.), S. Gregory {Horn, xxi.), and others. The first denial took place just after midnight He went away for fear the damsel should question him again. And the cock crew. This first cock-crowing did not rouse Peter from his fall, nor keep him from falling again