Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsRomans 1
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Romans 1 in the BibleRomans 1:8
Your faith renowned.
[1] The holy Doctors upon these words of the Apostle, and specially by our Master's promise [2] made to Peter, that his faith should not fail, give great testimony for the providence of God in the preservation of the Roman faith. S. Cyprian thus: ep. 55. nu. 6. They are so bold to carry letters from profane Schismatics to the chair of Peter and the principal Church whence Priestly unity rose: not considering the Romans to be them whose faith (the Apostle being the commender) was praised, to whom misbelief cannot have access. So S. Hierom Apolog. adv. Ruff. li. 3. c. 4. to. 2. [3] know you, that the Roman faith commended by the Apostle's mouth, will receive no such deceits, nor can be possibly changed, though an Angel taught otherwise, being fenced by S. Paul's authority. Again ep. 63. ad Pammach. & Oceanum. c. 4. to. 2. Whatsoever thou be that avouchest new sects, I pray thee have respect to the Roman ears. Spare the faith which was praised by the Apostle's voice. And in another place [4]: Will ye know, o Paula and Eustochium, how the Apostle hath noted every province with their proprieties? The faith of the people of Rome is praised. Where is there so great concourse to Churches and Martyrs' sepulchres? [5] Where soundeth Amen like thunder from heaven, or where are the temples (void of Idols) so shaken as there? Not that the Romans have another faith than the rest of the Christian Churches, but that there is in them more devotion and simplicity of faith. In another place the same holy Doctor signifieth that it is all one to say, the Roman faith, and the Catholic. Apolg. 1. adv. Ruff. c. 1. So doth S. Cyprian ep. 52. nu. 1. ad Antonianum: and S. Ambrose de obitu fratris, in med. [6] Whereupon, this word, Roman, is added to, Catholic, in many countries where sects do abound, for the better distinction of true believers from Heretics: which in all ages did hate and abhor the Roman faith and Church, as all malefactors do their Judges and correctors.
- 1 The Roman faith highly commended.
- 2 Luc. 22.
- 3 It cannot fail, nor be corrupted.
- 4 Prooem. li. 2. com. in ep. ad Gal.
- 5 The roman stations, a token of greater faith and devotion.
- 6 The Catholic and Roman faith all one.
Romans 1:9
Serve in spirit.
◦ Diverse Heretics when they hear that God is a spirit, and must be served and adored in spirit, imagine that he must be honoured only inwardly, without ceremonies and external works: which you see is otherwise, for that the Apostle served God in spirit, by preaching the Gospel. To serve God then in spirit, is to serve him with faith, hope, and charity, and with all works proceeding of them: as to serve him carnally, is, with works external, without the said internal virtues.
- ◦ How God is served in spirit.
A memory of you.
◦ A great example of charity for all men, specially for Prelates and Pastors, not only to preach, but to pray continually for the conversion of people to Christ's faith: Which the Apostle did for them whom he never knew, in respect of God's honour only and the zeal of souls.
- ◦ Prayer for conversion of souls.
Romans 1:15
To evangelize.
[1] The Gospel is not only the life of our Saviour written by the four Evangelists, nor only that which is written in the new Testament: but their whole course of preaching and teaching the faith. Which faith cometh ordinarily of preaching and hearing, and not of writing or reading. And therefore S. Paul thought not himself discharged by writing to the Romans, but his desire was to preach unto them: for that was the proper commission given to the Apostles, [2] to preach to all nations. [3] The writing of the books of the Testament, is another part of God's providence, necessary for the Church in general; but not necessary for every man in particular: as to be taught and preached unto, is for every one of age and understanding. And therefore S. Peter (who was the chief of the Commission) wrote little: many of them wrote nothing at all: and S. Paul that wrote most, wrote but little in comparison of his preaching: nor to any but such as were converted to the faith by preaching before.
- 1 The Gospel is not only the written word.
- 2 Mat. 28.
- 3 The Apostles' writing, and preaching, whether more necessary, and how.
Romans 1:17
Liveth by faith.
In the 10. to the Hebrews, he sheweth by this place of the Prophet (Abacuc 2.) that the just though he live here in peregrination, and seeth not presently nor enjoyeth the life everlasting promised to him, yet holdeth fast the hope thereof by faith, In this place he applieth the Prophet's words further to this sense, That it is our faith, that is to say, ◦ the Catholic belief (saith S. Augustine li. 3. cont. 2 ep. Pelag. ) Which maketh a just man, and distinguisheth between the just and unjust, and that by the law of faith, and not by the law of works. Whereof it riseth, that the Jew, the Heathen Philosopher, and the Heretic, though they excelled in all works of moral virtues, could not yet be just: and a Catholic Christian man living but an ordinary honest life, either not sinning greatly, or supplying his faults by penance, is just. And this difference riseth by faith. not that faith can save any man without works, For it is not a reprobate faith that we speak of, (as the holy Doctor saith) but that which worketh by charity, and therefore remitteth sins and maketh one just. See S. Augustine's place.
- ◦ The Catholic or Christian faith with good works justifieth; & without this faith, no works whatsoever.
Romans 1:18
Is revealed.
◦ By all the passage following you may see, that the Gospel and Christ's law consisteth not only in preaching faith, (though that be the ground, and is first always to be done:) but to teach virtuous life and good works, and to denounce damnation to all them that commit deadly sins and repent not. And again we see that not only lack of faith is a sin, but all other acts done against God's commandments.
- ◦ Not only faith.
Romans 1:26
Hath delivered them up.
[1] As he saith here, God delivered them up, so to the Ephesians (c. 4, 19.) he saith of the same persons and things, They delivered themselves up to all uncleanness. So that it is not meant here that God doth drive, force, or cause any man to sin, as diverse blasphemous Heretics do hold: but only that by his just judgement, for their own deserving, [2] and for due punishment of their former grievous offences, he withholdeth his grace from them, and so suffereth them to fall further into other sins. As, for their crime of Idolatry, to suffer them to fall into unnatural abominations: as now for heresy, he taketh his grace and mercy from many, and so they fall headlong into all kind of turpitude, as contrarywise, for ill life, he suffereth many to fall into heresy. And for Christ's sake let every one that is entangled with the Idolatry of this time, that is to say, with these new sects, look well into his own conscience, whether his forsaking the true God, may not come unto him for a punishment of his former or present ill life which he liveth.
- 1 God is not the author of sin.
- 2 God punisheth sin by permitting men to fall further and further.
Romans 1:32
Worthy of death.
◦ Here you see why the Church taketh some sins to be deadly, and calleth them mortal: to wit, because all that do them, are worthy of damnation: others be venial, that is to say, pardonable of their own nature and not worthy of damnation.
- ◦ Sins mortal and venial.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Romans 1:7
Grace to you and peace.
[1] It is a kind of blessing rather than a profane salutation, proper to the Apostles, of greater virtue than the benedictions of the Fathers in the old Testament. The holy Fathers of the Church seemed to abstain from it for their reverence to the Apostles. [2] The Manichees (August. cont. ep. funda. c. 5. 6.) and other Heretics [3] (as also these of our time) because they would be counted Apostles, often use it.