Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsProverbs 9

Wisdom hath built herself a house.

According to the literal sense, wherein the mystical is grounded (both intended by the Holy Ghost) Wisdom which is God himself, Creator & Conserver of all things, whose special good pleasure and delight is to be with men, built his house the Church, ^[1] first in the Patriarchs, Priests, Prophets, and his other faithful servants in the old Testament; partly before, but more conspicuously in the people of Israel, ^[2] establishing the same with seven, that is (according to the frequent phrase of holy Scripture) with many pillars, Pastors and chief governers, by whom the whole people were directed in all spiritual causes; as the Psalmist likewise induceth God, saying: I have confirmed the pillars thereof. ^[3] And as ^[4] S. Paul afterward calleth S. Peter, S. James, and S. John, pillars. In this house wisdom also prepared a banquet, appointed victims of diverse sorts, as grateful Sacrifices to God, & thereto invited all men in much better order, and to their more profit, than the adultress woman, folly and wicked concupiscence, inciteth to her carnal and worldly pleasures, which bring to eternal ruin. And for this purpose God never ceased to send Priests and Prophets to invite the people of Israel, to this strong tower fenced with walls. In the Allegorical sense, the same divine increated Wisdom, the second Person in the B. Trinity, the Divine Word co-eternal to the Father, built himself a house, his human body in the Virgin's womb, and thereunto, as to the head, adjoined the members, his mystical body the Church, ^[5] immolated victims of Martyrs, prepared the Table in bread and wine, where also appeareth his Priesthood; according to the Order of Melchisedec, and called thereto such as before were unwise, and of small understanding: because as the Apostle saith: ^[6] God chose the weak of this world to confound the strong. As S. Augustine expoundeth this

• 1 God built his Church with spiritual Pastors & Rites of Religion in the old Testament.
• 2 Prov. 8. v. 31.
• 3 Psa. 74.
• 4 Galat. 2.
• 5 The same are more excellent in the Church of Christ.
• 6 1. Cor. 1.