Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsIsaiah 63

Abraham hath not known us.

The faithful people considering their own great, frequent, & inveterate sins, with the extreme calamities whereinto they were fallen for the same, supposed that their progenitor Abraham (whom God had particularly called out of his country) & Jacob (of whose twelve sons the whole nation was propagated) did no longer acknowledge them for their children, ^[1] because they had so grievously offended God, & were not worthy of any favour. All which notwithstanding, yet they hoped in God's incomparable mercy, that his divine goodness, being Creator of all, who had elected them for his peculiar people, brought them out of Egypt, and often delivered them from sundry afflictions, would again reduce them from captivity, and as their merciful father, remit their sins, and relieve their miseries: though Abraham, Jacob, and other Patriarchs had justly rejected them as lost children. This being the proper literal sense of this place, according to S. Jerome, and other ancient Doctors' explication, it maketh nothing at all for the old and new heresy of Vigilantius, & Luther, denying that Saints in another life do know what is done in this world. For albeit the Patriarchs in zeal of justice, did not acknowledge their carnal posterity (because of their great sins) for their children, yet they knew their state, ^[2] as S. Augustine (li. de cura pro mortuis) ^[3] interpreting this, and other places of holy Scripture, teacheth, partly by relation of such as passed from hence to them; partly by holy Angels; and especially by divine inspirations. As it is clear that Abraham knew the state of poor Lazarus, & of the rich glutton, ^[4] describing what each of them had deserved, and consequently received. Much more both the old Patriarchs, and all other Saints, in eternal glory know each other, though never seen nor known before in this world, as S. Gregory teacheth: li. 4. c. 33. Dialog. The glorified Saints see also in God that which pertaineth to their clients, that pray unto them in earth, so far as God doth ordain, more clearly by light of glory, than Prophets see by light of prophecy: ^[5] as S. Augustine teacheth. ^[6] But touching the manner, he saith it exceeded the reach of his understanding, how Martyrs do help those, who, it is certain, are holpen by them. So discoursing at large of the uncertain manner, sheweth that there is no doubt at all of the thing itself, that Saints in heaven do know mortal men's necessities, hear their prayers, and help them by their intercession and merits. ^[7] Which he confirmeth also. li. 20. c. 21. cont. Faust. Tract. 8. in Ioan. Ser. 5. de Sanctis. Likewise, S. Jerome against Vigilantius, S. Gregory. li. 3. Epist. ep. 30. li. 7. ep. 126. li. 9. ep. 38. and others in many places.

• 1 The Jews supposed that for their sins the Patriarchs did not acknowledge them for their children. Yet hoped that God of his mercy would relieve them in distress.
• 2 How the old Patriarchs knew the state of men in this world.
• 3 cap. 16.
• 4 Luc. 16.
• 5 Saints in glory see more clearly than Prophets in this life.
• 6 li. 22. c. 20. civi. cura pro mort. c. 16.
• 7 That Saints know, & help mortal men's necessity is certain: but the manner how, is obscure.