Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsPsalms 44
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Psalms 44 in the BiblePsalms 44:16
They shall be brought into the temple of the King.
The temple of the King, saith S. Augustine, is the Church ◦, the temple of the King is in unity, the temple of the King is not ruinous, not cut insunder, not divided: the joining of living stones is charity. Nothing is more evident. Attend now the very temple of the King, for from thence he speaketh, because of the unity spread in the round earth. For those that would be virgins (faithful souls) unless they be brought into the temple of the King (the Catholic Church) they cannot please the bridegroom.
- ◦ No salvation out of the Church.
Psalms 44:17
For thy fathers there are born sons to thee.
The apostles begot thee (o Christ and Church) they were sent, they preached, they are the fathers ◦. But could they be always corporally with us? Could any of them tarry here till this time? Could they tarry to the time yet to come? But was therefore the Church left desolate by their departure? God forbid. For thy fathers, sons are born to thee. What is this, for thy fathers, sons are born to thee? The Apostles were sent fathers, in place of the Apostles sons are born to thee; Bishops are appointed. For whence were the Bishops born, that are at this day through the world? The Church herself calleth them fathers, she begat them, & appointed them in the seats of the fathers. Do not therefore think thyself desolate (o Christian Church) because thou seest not Peter, seest not Paul: for thou seest not them by whom thou wast born, but of thine issue fatherhood is sprung to thee: For thy fathers, sons are born to thee, thou shalt make them Princes over all the earth. This is the Catholic Church. Her children are made Princes over all the earth: her sons are constituted for fathers. Let them acknowledge this that are cut off: let them come to the unity, be they brought into the temple of the King. Thus S. Augustine.
- ◦ Perpetual succession of Bishops in place of the Apostles.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Psalms 44:7
Thy seat, o God, for ever and ever.
Seeing S. Paul (Heb. 1. v. 8.) affirmeth expressly that these words are spoken of the Son of God, Christ our Saviour, and thereby proveth his excellency above Angels: John Calvin is wonderful bold to avouch that in the simple & proper sense ◦, David spake of his son Salomon, and the daughter of Pharao, as if that were the literal sense, and S. Paul only expounded it mystically. But first, the solemn preface in the two first verses importeth far greater things, than agree to any terrestrial King. Secondly, this excellent beauty described (v. 3) above the sons of men, cannot be verified of Salomon: for Absalom (2. Reg. 14.) and Adonias were also very beautiful (3. Reg 1. v. 6.) As for Salomon's wisdom, or other virtues, he persevered not therein, and so he was not blessed for ever. Thirdly, the Prophet here calleth the person of whom, and to whom he speaketh, God. v. 7. & 12. Fourthly, not only the ancient Fathers, and Doctors of the Church, but also the Hebrew Rabbins, and the Chaldee paraphrasis, expound this Psalm literally of the promised Messias, and his kingdom the Church.