Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 21

You shall find.

Christ by divine power both knew where these beasts were, being absent, and commanded them for his use, being another man's, and suddenly made the colt fit to be ridden on, never broken before.

The ass and the colt.

^◦ This ass under yoke signifieth the Jews under the Law and under God their Lord, as it were his old and ancient people: the young colt now first ridden on by Christ, signifieth the Gentiles, wild hitherto and not broken, now to be called to the faith and to receive our Saviour's yoke. And therefore the three last Evangelists writing specially to the Gentiles, make mention of the colt only.

• ◦ Hiero. in Mat. Aug. li. 12. cont. Faust. c. 42.

Garments in the way.

These offices of honour done to our Saviour extraordinarily, were very acceptable: and for a memory here of the holy Church maketh a solemn ^[1] Procession every year upon this day, specially in our Country when it was Catholic, with the B. Sacrament reverently carried, as it were Christ upon the ass, and strawing of rushes and flowers, bearing of Palms, setting up boughs, spreading and hanging up the richest clothes, the choir and choristers singing, as here the children and the people. ^[2] All done in a very goodly ceremony to the honour of Christ and the memory of his triumph upon this day. The like service and the like duties done to him in all other solemn Processions of the B. Sacrament, and otherwise, be undoubtedly no less grateful.

• 1 Procession on Palm-Sunday with the B. Sacrament.
• 2 All devout offices in that kind, exceeding grateful.

Hosanna.

^◦ These very words of joyful cry and triumphant voice of gratulation to our Saviour, holy Church useth always in the preface of the Mass, as it were the voice of the Priest and all the people (who then specially are attent and devout) immediately before the Consecration and Elevation, as it were expecting, and rejoicing at his coming.

• ◦ HOSANNA.

House of prayer.

Note here that he calleth external sacrifice (out of the Prophet Esay) prayer. For he speaketh of the Temple, which was builded properly and principally for sacrifice.

Mouth of infants.

^◦ Young children's prayers proceeding from the instinct of God's spirit, be acceptable: and so the voices of the like, or of other simple folk now in the Church, though themselves understand not particularly what they say, be marvelous grateful to Christ.

• ◦ Prayers not understood of the party, are acceptable.

Believing.

In respect of our own unworthiness, and of the thing not always expedient for us, we may well doubt when we pray, whether we shall obtain or no: but on God's part we must believe, that is, we must have no diffidence or mistrust either of his power or of his will, if we be worthy, and the thing expedient. And therefore S. Mark hath thus, Have ye faith of God. ^◦

• ◦ Mr. 11. 22.

In what power?

^[1] The Heretics presumptuously think themselves in this point like to Christ, because they are asked, in what power they come, and who sent them: but when they have answered this question as fully as Christ did here by that which he insinuateth of John's testimony for his authority, they shall be heard, and till then they shall be still taken for those of whom God speaketh by the Prophet, ^[2] They ran, and I sent them not.

• 1 Heretics run, not sent.
• 2 Iere. 23.

The first.

The first son here is the people of the Gentiles, because Gentility was before there was a peculiar and chosen people of the Jews. And therefore the Jews here as the later, are signified by the other son.