John 20:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For this reason she received no small reward for such great zeal. What the disciples did not see, the woman first saw: Angels in white garments, sitting, one at the feet and the other at the head. Their very clothing already showed great joy and gladness. Since the woman’s mind was not so exalted as to come to faith in the Resurrection from the burial cloths, something greater takes place. She sees Angels sitting in radiant garments, so that through this she might rise from grief and be comforted.

She saw what they had not seen: two Angels. The vision of the Angels was the greatest consolation for her. Their bright clothing and their sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, showed that they knew something more and could instruct her if asked. [...] Every soul that has mastery over the passions is called Mary. Having been purified through dispassion, it sees in Jesus both God and Man. For the Angel sitting at the head points to the Godhead, and the other, sitting at the feet, to the humble Incarnation of the Word.

Notice again how a tear shed for Christ does not remain unrewarded. The fruit of love for Him is not far away. Grace and abundant recompense follow close beside the labors and together with them.

Mary remained at the tomb, bearing in her heart a strong love for God and preserving sincere devotion to the Master. Through the voice of the holy angels, the Savior gave her knowledge of His mystery.

She sees angels in shining garments. Their clothing indicated the unfeigned beauty of angelic purity. They restrain her lamentation and say: "Woman, why are you weeping?"

They appear "sitting at the head and at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain." By this they gave an indication to the woman, who thought that the Lord had been moved.

Why was one angel at the head and the other at the feet? Is it not because those who in Greek are called angels are in Latin called messengers?

Did they not signify in this way that the Gospel of Christ would be preached from head to feet, from beginning to end?

What does it mean that one sat at the head and the other at the feet? Is it not because those who in Greek are called angels, in Latin nuntii, that is, messengers, symbolized this?

The Gospel of Christ was to be proclaimed from beginning to very end, as though from head to feet.

These were the same Angels who had previously appeared to her and to the women with her. But why did they not appear to Peter and John? Because for them, being more perceptive, what they saw was sufficient for faith. “Sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.” The Angels sat there for Mary’s sake. They shone with joy. Angels still remained at the tomb of Jesus Christ in order to announce and confirm that the Lord had risen, and had not been stolen.

Therefore she, who so loves, again bends down into the tomb which she had examined. Let us see what fruit the power of love brings forth in her, doubling her zeal in seeking.

It follows: "and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain."

What does it mean that two angels are seen sitting at the place of the Lord's body, one at the head and the other at the feet? Since angel in Latin is called messenger, what else is signified?

It means that, after His Passion, there was to be proclamation concerning Him who is both God before the ages and man at the end of the ages.

Meanwhile it is evident that it was still dark outside, since the physical day had not yet fully shone. But that cave was filled with the light of the Resurrection.

This light was divinely seen by Mary. It kindled her love for Christ still more, and gave power to her eyes afterward to receive the vision of the angels.

It gave her power not only to see, but also to be able to speak with angels. Such was the power of that light.

She saw them in white garments, not only because of the purity and radiance of the angelic nature. They were also announcing and showing by their brightness the mystery of the Resurrection.

At the same time, they were as though celebrating with us in deed the truly radiant Day of the Master's Resurrection.

The Appearance of the Risen Christ to Mary Magdalene. The entrance to the cave was probably lower than a man's height. Therefore, while standing at the entrance, one could not see its interior.

To look into it, one had to bend down and stoop. The Evangelist John himself, stooping down but not entering the tomb, that is, the cave, saw the linen cloths lying there.

So also Mary, while she was weeping, stooped into the tomb. That is, she bent down and looked while continuing to stand at the entrance.

And she saw two angels in white garments sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Meanwhile Mary Magdalene, whose faith showed Peter's impatience, did not trust what she herself had seen and heard during the first visit to the tomb with the other women. Now she ran alone to look once more at the tomb with her own eyes.

The rising sun had already begun to spread golden rays over the summits of the surrounding mountains. A beautiful spring day was beginning in nature. But Mary's soul was gloomy.

Having carefully examined the cave and the tomb, and finding there no explanation for her perplexities, she stood by the tomb and wept.

"Woman, why are you weeping?" a voice suddenly sounded. Startled, she again bent down toward the cave and saw two young men in white garments.

“Two Angels”: compare the note on Lk 24:4. “In white clothing”: see the note on Mt 28:3. “One at the head and the other at the feet”: they were sitting on the bier on which bodies of the dead were placed in burial caves.