Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMark 3

English College of Douai–Rheims

Mark 3:12

Thou art the son.

The confession of the truth is not grateful to God, proceeding from every person. The devil acknowledging our Saviour to be the son of God, was bidden hold his peace: Peter's confession of the same was highly allowed and rewarded. Aug. tract. 10. in ep. Ioan. Ser. 30. 31. de verb. Apostoli. ^◦ Therefore neither Heretics' sermons must be heard, no not though they preach the truth. So is it of their prayer and service, which being never so good in itself, is not acceptable to God out of their mouths, yea it is no better than the howling of wolves. Hiero. in 7. Osee.

◦ Sermons, Service, and prayer of Heretics.

Mark 3:14

Twelve.

^[1] This number of twelve Apostles is mystical and of great importance (as appeareth ^[2] by the choosing of Mathias into Judas' place to make up again this number) prefigure in the 12 Patriarchs, Gen. 49. the 12. Princes of the children of Israel, Num. 1. the 12 fountains found in Elim, Exod. 15. the 12 precious stones in the Rationale of Aaron, Exod. 39. The 12 spies sent by Moyses, Num 13. the 12 stones taken out of Jordan whereof the Altar was made, Josu. 4. the 12 loaves of Proposition, Levit. 24. &c. Anselm. in Mt. c. 10. And these are the 12 foundations of heavenly Hierusalem. Apoc. 21.

1 The number of Twelve, mystical.
2 Act. 1.

Mark 3:16

Peter.

^[1] Peter in numbering the Twelve is always the first, and his name is so given him for signification of his calling to be the ^[2] Rock or Foundation of the Church under Christ: as here also the name Boanerges is given to other two Apostles for signification, and so diverse names elsewhere in the old Testament and in the new.

1 Peter's preeminence.
2 Mt. 16.

Mark 3:24

Kingdom against kingdom.

^[1] ^[2] As this is true in all Kingdoms and Common-weals where Civil dissension reigneth, so is it specially verified in heresies and Heretics, which have always divisions among themselves as the plague of God, for dividing themselves and others from the Church.

1 Dissension of Heretics.
2 Greg. li. 9. ep. 3.

Mark 3:29

Eternal sin.

^[1] That which is here called eternal, is (as S. Matthew ^[2] expresseth it) that which shall neither be remitted in this life, nor in the life to come. Where we learn by S. Mark, that there are also sins not eternal: and by S. Matthew, that they are such, as shall be forgiven either here, or in the life to come.

1 Venial sins forgiven after death.
2 Mt. 12, 32.

Mark 3:33

Who is my mother?

^[1] Neither is it here said, that he had no mother, as some upon these words falsely gather: nor ingratitude to our parents is taught us by this answer: but we be hereby admonished to prefer the spiritual mother of the Faithful, which is the Church Catholic, and our brethren in her, and their spiritual good, above our carnal parents or kin. For so our Master being occupied here about heavenly things, accounted all them his mother and brethren, which did the will of his Father, in which number our Lady his mother was also included, for she did his Father's will. Aug. ep. 38. ^[2] Yea and above all others, because she had so much grace given her that she never sinned not so much as venially in all her life. Aug. de nat. & grat. c. 36.

1 Spiritual kindred and business preferred before carnal and worldly.
2 The B. Virgin without sin.

Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0