# Endnotes explained — Verses on Various Occasions > Chapter companion for Verses on Various Occasions by John Henry Newman. ## What happens This chapter provides editorial endnotes and commentary on the poems and hymns, including references to literary sources, explanations of textual alterations, and annotations on the theological and musical dimensions of 'The Dream of Gerontius'. ## Themes in this chapter ### Suffering and Humility The endnotes discuss Gerontius's suffering in the body, his weakness in prayer, and the humility of his soul as it faces death and judgment. ### Faith and Doubt The annotations highlight the ecstasy of faith, hope, and love in Gerontius's dying moments, as well as the liturgical prayers that express trust in God. ### The Role of the Saint References to St. Philip Neri and St. Francis d'Assisi illustrate the intercession and example of saints in the context of death and divine vision. ## Character check-ins ### Gerontius The dying soul whose experience is the subject of 'The Dream of Gerontius'; the endnotes discuss his prayers, the Litany for the Dying, and the musical structure of his utterances. ### Angel The Guardian Angel who guides Gerontius's soul after death; the endnotes reference the angel's song and the teaching that each soul is given a Guardian Angel at birth. ### Philip Neri Mentioned in an endnote describing his death, when he sang the Gloria in Excelsis after gazing at the hill of St. Onofrio. ### David Referenced in an endnote as a biblical figure (David) alongside Jeroboam. ### Jeroboam Mentioned in an endnote as a biblical figure alongside David. ## Key lines > Is life a boon so kindly given, etc. , vide Childe Harold , Canto II . The line 'Is life a boon so kindly given' is a reference to Byron's Childe Harold, Canto II. _Literary allusion to Byron's work._ > Of course the allusion is not to the author’s mother; a mother has no favourites. The author clarifies that the reference is not to his own mother, as a mother does not have favorites. _Authorial clarification about a familial reference._ > Of course this is the exclamation of one who, when so writing, was not in Catholic Communion. The exclamation was made by someone who was not yet in communion with the Catholic Church at the time of writing. _Contextual note on the author's religious affiliation at the time of composition._ > The last twelve lines were added after Feb. 28, 1836, the date of R. Hurrell Froude’s death. The final twelve lines of the poem were added after February 28, 1836, the date of R. Hurrell Froude's death. _Chronological note on the poem's composition._ > These hymns are all free translations, made in 1836–8, from the Roman Breviary, except two, which are from the Parisian. These hymns are free translations from the Roman Breviary (1836–38), with two exceptions from the Parisian Breviary. _Source and date of hymn translations._ > On the day of his death, Philip, 'at the beginning of his Mass, remained for some time looking fixedly at the hill of St. Onofrio...' On the day of his death, St. Philip Neri stared at the hill of St. Onofrio during Mass before singing the Gloria in Excelsis. _Anecdote about St. Philip Neri's death._ > Gerontius dreams that he is dying. He has not strength to pray. Gerontius dreams of his own death and lacks the strength to pray. _Summary of the opening of 'The Dream of Gerontius'._ > According to the teaching of the Catholic Church, each soul is given at its birth in charge of a Guardian Angel. Catholic doctrine holds that every soul is assigned a Guardian Angel at birth. _Doctrinal explanation of guardian angels._ > St. Francis d’Assisi. In 1224, while on Mount Alvernus... a seraph appeared and marked the hands, feet, and right side of St. Francis with the five wounds of Our Lord’s Passion. In 1224, St. Francis of Assisi received the stigmata from a seraph on Mount Alvernus. _Historical account of St. Francis's stigmata._ > In Dante’s Vision of Purgatory (Canto I) hell is spoken of as a 'cruel sea,' and the water surrounding the Island of Purgatory as the 'better waves.' In Dante's Purgatory, hell is a 'cruel sea' and the waters around Purgatory are 'better waves.' _Literary reference to Dante's Divine Comedy._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/endnotes - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters