Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsRevelation 6

Under the altar.

Christ as man (no doubt) is this altar, under which the souls of all Martyrs live in heaven, expecting their bodies, as Christ their head hath his body there already. And for correspondence to their place or state in heaven, the Church layeth commonly their bodies also or relics near or under the altars, ^◦ where our Saviour's body is offered in the holy Mass: and hath a special provision that no altars be erected or consecrated without some part of a Saint's body or relics. Conc. African. can. 50. Carthag. 5. can. 14. See S. Hierom cont. Vigilant c. 3. S. Augustine de civit. li. 8. c. 27. S. Gregory li. 5. ep. 50. li. 1. ep. 52. li. 2. ep. 58. Whereunto the Prophet seemeth here to allude, making their souls also to have their being in heaven, as it were under the altar. But for this purpose note well the words of S. Augustine (or what other ancient writer soever was the author thereof) Ser. 11 de Sanctis. Under the altar (saith he) of God I saw the souls of the slain. What is more reverent or honourable, than to rest under the altar on which sacrifice is done to God, and in which our Lord is the Priest: as it is written, Thou art a Priest according to the order of Melchisedec? Rightly do the souls of the just rest under the altar, because upon the altar our Lord's body is offered, neither without cause do the just there call for revenge of their blood, where also the blood of Christ is shed for sinners, and many other goodly words to that purpose.

This place also the wicked heretic Vigilantius (as S. Hierom writing against him witnesseth c. 2) ^[1] abused to prove, that the souls of Martyrs and other Saints were included in some certain place, that they could not be present at their bodies and monuments (where Christian people used in the primitive Church to pray unto them, as Catholic men do yet) nor be where they list, or where men pray unto them. To which the holy doctor answereth at large, that they be wheresoever Christ is according to his humanity: for under that altar they be. Part of his words be these, that you may see how this blessed father refuted in that Heretic the Calvinists so long before they were born. ^[2] Doest thou (saith he) prescribe laws to God? Doest thou fetter the Apostles, that they may be kept in prison till the day of judgement, and be kept from their Lord, of whom it is written, They follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth. ^[3] If the Lamb be in every place, then they that be with the Lamb, must be every-where. And if the devil and wicked spirits gadding abroad in the world with passing celerity, be present every-where: shall holy Martyrs after the shedding of their blood, be kept close under an altar, that they cannot stir out from thence? So answereth this learned doctor.

• 1 Saints be present at their tombs and relics.
• 2 The Calvinists' heresy concerning the Saints confuted by S. Hierom long ago.
• 3 Apoc. 14.
• ◦ Consecration of altars with Saints' relics.

Which misliketh our Calvinists so much, that they charge him of great error, in that he saith, Christ according to his humanity is every-where, as though he were an Ubiquitary Protestant. ^[1] Where, if they had any judgement, they might perceive that he meaneth not, that Christ or his Saints should be personally present at once in every place alike, as God is: but that their motion, speed, and agility to be where they list, is in comparable, and that their power and operation is accordingly. Which they may learn to be the holy doctor's meaning, ^[2] by the words that follow of the Devil and his ministers: whom he affirmeth to be every-where no otherwise but by their exceeding celerity of being and working mischief now in one place, now in another, and that in a moment. For though they be spirits, yet are they not every-where at once according to their essence. And for our new Divines it were a hard thing to determine, how long Satan (that told our Lord he had circuited the earth) ^[3] was in his journey, and in the particular consideration and tentation of Job: and how many men he assaulted in that his once circuit. No, no, such curious companions know nothing, nor believe nothing, but that they see with corporal eyes, and teach nothing but the way to infidelity.

• 1 They unlearnedly accuse S. Hierom as an Ubiquist.
• 2 How S. Hierom saith, Christ & his Saints are every-where.
• 3 Iob. 1.

And they cried.

S. Hierom also against the said Vigilantius reporteth, that he used an argument against the prayers of Saints out of this place, for that these Martyrs cried for revenge, ^◦ and could not obtain. But we will report his words, that you may see how like one heretic is to another, these of our days to those of old. Thou sayest in thy book (saith S. Hierom c. 3.) that whiles we be alive, one of us may pray for another: but after we be dead, no man's prayer shall be heard for another: specially seeing the Martyrs asking revenge of their blood, could not obtain. So saith the Heretic. Against which the holy Doctor maketh a long refutation, proving that they pray much more after they be in heaven, than they did here in earth: and that they shall be much sooner heard of God, than when they were in the world.

But for the Heretic's argument framed out of these words of the Apocalypse thus, These Martyrs did not obtain, ergo Saints do not pray for us: it was so frivolous, and the antecedent so manifestly false, that he vouchsaved not to stand about it. For it is plain that the Martyrs here were heard, and that their petition should be fulfilled in time appointed by God (whereunto they did and do always conform themselves:) for it was said unto them, That they should rest yet a little time, till &c. And that Martyrs' prayers be heard in this case, our Saviour testifieth Luc 18 saying, And will not God revenge his elect that cry to him day and night? I say to you, he will quickly revenge them. And if God do not hear the Saints sometime nor grant their requests, is it therefore consequent that they do not or man not pray? Then Christ himself should not have prayed his father to remove the bitter cup of death from him, because that petition was not granted.

• ◦ That Saints pray for us, S. Hierom proveth against the Heretic Vigilantius.

Revengest thou not?

^◦ They do not desire revenge upon their enemies for hatred, but of charity and zeal of God's honour, praying that his enemies and the persecutors of his Church and Saints, that will not repent, may be confounded: and that our Lord would accelerate his general judgement, that so they might attain the perfect crown of glory promised unto them, both in body and soul: which is to desire the resurrection of their bodies, which then shall triumph perfectly and fully over the persecutors that so cruelly handled the bodies of the elect, which shall then appear glorious to the enemies' confusion.

• ◦ How Martyrs cry for revenge.

Till their fellow servants be complete.

There is a certain number that God hath ordained to die for the testimony of truth and the Catholic faith, for conformity of the members of the head Christ our chief Martyr. And till that number be accomplished, the general condemnation of the wicked persecutors shall not come, nor the general reward of the elect.