Massa Candida (white lump)

Also excerpt from St. Augustine of N. Africa

COMMENTARY ON Psalm 49

Are we to think that only

153 just people will be at

his right?  No, scripture

suggests thousands of thousands.

And read the Apocalypse: it

would seem from what is said

there that there will be twelve 

times twelve thousand from the

Jewish people alone [Rev. 7:4].

Then think of the huge number

of martyrs.  To go no further

afield, our own Massa Candida 

numbered more than 153 martyrs.

[martyred at UTICA, north of

Carthage in Emperian Valerian's

reign (circa 258)] -- a legend 

grew up that they were thrown

alive into quicklime, which

reduced their bodies to white

powder _______________________

. . .The 153 fish do not 

correspond to the exact number

of the saints and the righteous,

so that by a hundred and fifty-three

we may understand all those who

have part in the resurrection to

eternal life.

Expositions of the Psalms vol. 2

WSA Translation for the 21st Century

by Maria Goulding (text & notes)

III/16 New City Press, New York, NY