101. And so since he was separated from his
parents through piety not on account of impiety, he talked with God, he
increased in riches, in children, and in favour. Nor was he
elated by these things when he met his brother; but humbly bowed down
to him, not indeed considering him the pitiless, the furious, the
degenerate, but Him Whom he reverenced in him. And so he bowed
down seven times, which is the number of remission, for he was not
bowing down to man, but to Him Whom he foresaw in the Spirit, as
hereafter to come in human flesh to take away the sins of the
world. S. John i. 29. And this
mystery is unfolded to you in the answer
given to Peter, when he said:
“If my brother trespass against me how often shall I forgive
him? Until seven times?” S. Matt. xviii. 21. You
see that remission of sins is a type of that great Sabbath, of that
rest of everlasting grace, and therefore is given by
contemplation.