Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 1

Thamar.

Christ abhorred not to take flesh of some that were ill, as he chose Judas among his Apostles: Let not us disdain to receive our spiritual birth and sustenance of such as be not always good.

Joseph.

Joseph marrying our Lady as near of kin (for so was the ^◦ law) by his pedigree sheweth hers, and consequently Christ's pedigree from David.

• ◦ Nu. 36.

Husband.

True and perfect marriage, and continual living in the same, without carnal copulation. Aug. lib. 2. Consen. Evang. c. 1.

Born in her.

The triple good or perfection of marriage accomplished in the parents of Christ, to wit, Issue, Fidelity, Sacrament. Aug. de nup. & conc. li. 1. c. 11.

A Virgin.

^◦ Our Saviour born in marriage, but yet of a Virgin, would honour both states: and withal, teacheth us against Jovinian the old Heretic and these of our time, that virginity and the continent life are preferred before marriage that hath carnal copulation. See S. Hierom. adv. Iovin. and S. Greg. Nazianz. Ser. 20 de studio in pauperes, in initio.

• ◦ Virginity preferred.

A Virgin.

As our Lady both a virgin and a mother, brought forth Christ the head corporally: so the Church a virgin and a mother, bringeth forth the members of his head spiritually. Aug. li. de Virg. ca. 2.

And bring forth.

^◦ The Heretic Iovinian is here refuted, holding that her virginity was corrupted in bringing forth Christ. Aug. hær. 28. Li. 1. cont. Iulian. c. 2.

• ◦ Our B. Lady's perpetual virginity.

Till, First-born.

^◦ Helvidius of old abused these words, till, and, first-born, against the perpetual virginity of our B. Lady. Hiero. cont. Helv. Which truth though not expressed in Scripture, yet our Adversaries also do grant, and Helvidius for denial thereof was condemned for an heretic by tradition only. Aug. hær. 84.

• ◦ Tradition.