Revelation 12:1

Gregory the Great (Canonized Saint, Doctor of the Ancient Church,

Pope from 590 - 604 C.E.)

On Revelation 12.1 : A woman clothed with the sun

and with the moon under her feet

(pages 64-5, translated by Mark DelCogliano,

FC 144 in 2022)

When the sun is used figuratively in Scripture,

sometimes it designates the Lord, sometimes

persecution, sometimes the clear sign of

something, but sometimes the understanding

of the wise.  Now by the "sun" the Lord is

figuratively as when in the Book of Wisdom

[of Solomon, Apocrypha] it is testified that

all the impious on the day of final judgment

will say in full knowledge of their own

damnation: "We strayed from the way of

truth, and the lights of righteousness did

not shine upon us, and the sun did not

rise up on us" (Wisdom of Solomon 5:6).

It is as if they were saying in plain speech:

"The ray of inward light did not shine upon

us."  In a similarly manner, John [book of

Revelation] said: A woman clothed with

the sun and with the moon under her feet.

For by the "sun" is understood the illumination

of Truth, whereas by the "moon," which wanes

when the month is completed, the changeableness

of temporal existence.  But because the

holy Church is protected by the splendor of

light from above, she is, as it were, clothed

with the sun.  But because she despises all

temporal things, she tramples the moon under

her feet.

(from Gregory's Moralia on Job chapter 34)