Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsLuke 19
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Luke 19 in the BibleLuke 19:8
I restore fourfold.
[1] That which we give of our own, is alms and satisfaction for our sins: but that which we restore of ill gotten goods by Extortion, Usury, Simony, Bribery, Theft, or otherwise, that is called here Restoring. And it is of duty and not of free alms, and must be rendered not to whom we list, but to the parties annoyed if it be possible, otherwise it must be bestowed upon the poor, or other good uses, according to the advice of our superior & such as have charge of our souls. But that he yield fourfold, that was more than he was bound, but very satisfactory [2] for his former sins also. And herewith we may note, that it is not the giving of a penny, groat, or crown, of a rich man's superfluity, that is so much recommended to sinners for redeeming their faults: but this large bestowing upon Christ, to sell all and give it in alms, to give the moiety of our goods, to render four times so much, for that which is wrongfully gotten, that extinguisheth sins. The poor widow's brass penny was very grateful [3], because it was all or much of that she had: but the rich man's pound of his superfluity, though it be good, yet is nothing so grateful.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Luke 19:4
Went up.
◦ Not only inward devotion of faith and charity towards Christ, but external offices of seeing, following, touching, receiving, harbouring him, are recommended to us in this example: even so our manifold exterior devotion towards his Sacraments, Saints, and servants, be grateful: specially the endeavour of good people not only to be present at Mass or in the Church, but to be near the B. Sacrament, and to see it with all reverence and devotion according to the order of the Church, much more to receive it into the house of their body.