Then answered Simon, and said, Pray you to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me.
Read Chapter 8
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Pray . for me. Instead of following the advice of St. Peter, he begs them to pray, not that God would touch his heart, and give him repentance; but that the evils might not fall upon him. In this he is a true model of false penitents, who hate not the sin, but fear the punishment, which is the consequence of it. He afterwards left the East, and went to Rome, under the reign of Claudius. Sts. Justin, Iren us, and others say, the senate adored him as a divinity. Having undertaken to fly in the air, in the presence of the emperor and senate, when he had raised himself to a certain height, he was brought down by the prayers of Sts. Peter and Paul, and died a few days after, of the wounds he received by the fall. (Calmet)
See also Eusebius, Theod., St. Augustine
Even this he did only formally, as words of course, when he ought to have wept and mourned as a penitent. If perchance it may be forgiven you. Not as though it would not have been pardoned, had he wept, but this is the manner of the Prophet also, to denounce absolutely, (ἀ παγορεύειν) and not to say, Howbeit, if you do this, your sin shall be forgiven, but that in any wise the punishment shall take effect.
(a) Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went everywhere, preaching the word. But I would have you admire how even in a season of calamity they neglected not the preaching. Hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
