Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 27
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Matthew 27 in the BibleMatthew 27:5
Hung himself.
◦ If he had rightly repented, notwithstanding his horrible treason, he might have obtained mercy: but by hanging himself he took away all means of mercy and salvation, because he died finally impenitent.
- ◦ Desperation.
Matthew 27:24
Innocent of his blood.
◦ Though Pilate was much more innocent than the Jews, and would have been free from the murder of our Saviour, seeking all the means that he could (without offending the people and the Emperor's laws) to dimiss him: Yet he is damned for being the minister of the people's wicked will against his own conscience. Even as all Officers be, and specially the Judges and Juries which execute laws of temporal Princes against Catholic men: for all such be guilty of innocent blood, and be nothing excused by that they execute other men's will according to the laws, which be unjust. For they should rather suffer death themselves, than put an innocent man to death.
- ◦ They that execute laws against their conscience, are like to Pilate.
Matthew 27:40
If thou be the Son.
◦ Marvel not, when thou hearest our Saviour in the B. Sacrament mocked at, or seest him abused of wicked men, that he straight revengeth not such blasphemies: or that he sheweth not himself there visibly and to the senses, when faithless Heretics will say, Let me see him, taste him, &c. for he suffered here the like on the Cross, when he might at his will have come down with as much ease as he rose when he was dead.
- ◦ Christ derided in the B. Sacrament, even as upon the Cross.
Matthew 27:46
Why hast thou forsaken me?
Beware here of the detestable blasphemy of Calvin and the Calvinists [1], who thinking not the bodily death of Christ sufficient, say, that he was also here so forsaken and abandoned of his Father, that he sustained in soul and conscience the very fears and torments of the damned. Which strange doctrine we find also avouched in an English Catechism set forth by R. H. Anno. 1583. in these words: Quest. By what means hath Christ appeased his Father wrath, and ransomed us? Answer. By suffering death of the Cross, and the torment of Hell in soul, and conscience. Quite contrary to the holy Scriptures, which always attribute our Redemption to Christ's death, and shedding of his most precious blood, as to a most sufficient, & only ransom for all mankind. Ro. 5, 10. Heb. 9, 14. 1. Pet. 1, 19. 1. Io. 1, 7. and in innumerable other places. But Calvin and his Disciples hold this wicked paradox, to take away the Article of Christ's descending into Hell after his death, saying that his descending was nothing else, but that his soul (remaining as yet in his body) suffered the very pains of Hell upon the Cross [2]. Whereas indeed his descending was in soul (parting forth of the body) into that place, where the Fathers of the old Testament were detained, expecting his coming to deliver them (and that with triumph, and not in pain) as is proved by the Scriptures, and many ancient Fathers, in the Annotations upon S. Luke. c. 16, 22. Act. 2, 27. 1. Pet. 3, 19. and in other places. And concerning the true sense of these words: Why hast thou forsaken me? as well by conferring them with other holy Scriptures, as by the uniform consent of the ancient Fathers, our Saviour would signify hereby, that his pains (being now so long on the Cross and ready to die) were very great, and therefore according to the infirmity of his human nature, for very anguish (as before in the garden he sweat blood, when he was but toward his Passion) he saith he was forsaken, for two causes. First because it was the will of God not to deliver him, but that he should die. Secondly, because his divine nature did so repress itself for the time, that he felt no comfort thereof at all, but was left to die in extreme pains as a mere man. Yea destitute of such consolation, as his holy Martyrs commonly have in their last agony. See Origin, Tract. 35. in Mat. S. Hilary li. 10. de Trinit. S. Leo ser. 17. de Passione S. Bede and others upon this place.
- 1 Catechis. Calv. & Instit. li. 2. 16. 5. 10.
- 2 Detestable blasphemy of Calvin. And other Ministers of his school.
Matthew 27:59
Wrapped.
[1] This honour and duty done to Christ's body being dead, was marvelous grateful and meritorious. And this wrapping of it in clean sindon may signify by S. Hierom [2], that the Body of our Lord is to be wrapped not in gold, precious stones, and silk, but in pure linen. And so in the whole Church it is observed by [3] S. Silvester's constitution, that the Corporal [4] whereupon our Lord's body lieth on the altar, must be pure and plain linen.
- 1 Reverent using of our Lord's Body.
- 2 S. Hier. in hunc locum.
- 3 * to. 1. Concil.
- 4 Corporals.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Matthew 27:3
Repenting him.
◦ Note how speedily the plague of God falleth after sin, and specially men must note what torment of conscience, and desperation often followeth the shedding of innocent blood.