Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsLuke 18

Shall he find faith.

^[1] The Luciferians and Donatists used this place to excuse their fall from the Church, as our Adversaries now do, saying that it was decayed in faith, when they forsook it. To whom we answer as S. Hierom ^[2] and S. Augustine ^[3] answered them, that Christ saith not that there should be no faith left in earth: but by this manner of speech insinuateth, that at the later day in the great persecution of Antichrist faith should be more rare, and the faithful among so many wicked not so notorious: specially that perfect faith containing devotion, trust, and affection toward God, which our Master so praised in certain upon whom he wrought miracles, and by force whereof mountains might be moved, which is rare even when the Church flourisheth most.

• 1 The Church erreth not in faith.
• 2 Hier. cont. Lucif. c. 6.
• 3 Aug. de unit. Ec. c. 15. & de verb. Do. Ser. 36.