Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsLuke 23

Forgive them.

A perfect example of charity in our Saviour praying for his crucifiers, which the first martyr S. Steven did follow, Act. 7: and the prayers of both were heard: Christ's prayer taking effect in the Centurion and others, Steven's in Paul.

In Paradise.

^[1] Thou mayst not hereupon defer thy conversion or amendment, presuming of grace at the last hour of thy life, nor look to have salvation by faith and confession of Christ without good works, nor to go straight to heaven without satisfaction, penance, or punishment for thy former sins and life ill spent, nor challenge security and certain knowledge of thy salvation. For this good thief's case is not common, but a rare example of mercy and prerogative. But for the first point, learn only not to despair, though thou hast been ill to the last moment of thy life. For the second, that faith, hope, and charity, repentance, and good will be sufficient, and good works not required, where for want of time and opportunity they cannot be had. ^[2] For the third, that Christ gave to this happy man for his zealous confession of him and reprehending his fellow, not only remission of his sins, but also by extraordinary grace, a pardon of all penance and satisfaction due either in this life or the next for the same. Even as the holy Church by his example and commission giveth pardons also to some of her zealous children, of all punishment due for their offences, and such go straight to heaven. Lastly, that every one hath not a revelation of his salvation as this man had, and therefore cannot be so sure as he was.

• 1 The good thief.
• 2 Pardon of due penance and satisfaction.

Wherein never.

As in the womb of Mary none was conceived before nor after him, so in this monument none was laid before nor after him: which prerogative (no doubt) was of God's providence, this Joseph no less abstaining afterward to be buried in it, than the other Joseph from copulation with the mother of our Lord. S. Augustine.

Saw the monument.

^◦ These good women of great devotion observed the Sepulcher for the honour of the holy body. Whereupon the devotion of faithful folk watching and visiting on Good-Friday and Easter eve the sepulcher made in every Church for memory of our Lord's burial, is exceeding good and godly, specially the B. Sacrament for more signification sake being present in the same Sepulcher.

• ◦ Visiting the Sepulcher, or Sepulchers.