for fear of the Jews, Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were at table, and saith to them: Peace be to you. It is I, fear not. He upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him, after he was risen again. But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit; and he saith to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet; it is I, myself. Handle, and see. For a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet, and his side (7)."

(a) "The disciples, therefore, were glad, when they saw the Lord. But while they yet believed not (8), and wondered for joy, he said: Have you here any thing to eat? They offered him a piece of broiled fish and a honey-comb. And when he had eaten before them, taking the remains, he gave to them."

(b)" He said to them again: Peace be to you." And as he was going to confer upon them a great gift, and to communicate to them the most incommunicable of all the prerogatives of the divinity, he added: "As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them (9), and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they (a) St. John, xx. 20; St. Luke, xxiv. 41–43.

(b) St. John, xx. 21–31.

(7) It is not stated whether or not they really touched him. The ancients had so little doubt upon the subject, that they never even mooted the question; in point of fact, every thing tends to this belief. They wished to assure themselves of the truth of the resurrection: the touch was the true means of doing so, and Jesus Christ offered them this means. When St. Thomas said to them: Except I shall put my finger in the place of the nails....I will not believe, does he not seem to have meant: I shall believe it like you when I shall have touched him like you? The following words from the First Epistle of St. John, are also understood to refer to this touch: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.... We declare unto you, (8) They must have believed to a certain extent, since they were filled with joy; but this belief was not exempt from doubt. This is the reason why it is said that they did not yet believe, because they had not faith, which is incompatible with doubt. They were delighted at seeing him, but they doubted whether it was not an illusion or a dream. (9) This breath was not the Holy Ghost; it was but the sign thereof.

By this breath going forth from his bosom, Jesus Christ further signified that the Holy Ghost proceeds from him according to his divinity.