Matthew — Chapter 2
These annotations are from the original 1582 Rheims New Testament, produced by English scholars in exile at the English College of Rheims. The archaic spelling is preserved.
This content was digitized from the original 1609 Douay (Old Testament) and 1582 Rheims (New Testament) print editions by OCR. The OCR process sometimes confused print page numbers with verse numbers, and may have assigned annotations to the wrong chapter. Chapter and verse labels on this page reflect the OCR output from the original print pagination and may not correspond to canonical Scripture chapter/verse numbers. For canonical reference, consult a standard Douay-Rheims edition. The annotation texts themselves are authentic 1609/1582 Douay-Rheims content.
Verse 1
1. Behold.) Our Lords apparition or Epiphanie to these Sages, being Gentils, their Pilgrimage to him, and in them the first homage of Gentilitie done vnto him the twelfth day after his Natiuitie, and therfore is Twelfth-day highly celebrated in the Catholike Church for ioy of the calling of vs Gentils. His baptisme also and first miracle are celebrated on the same day.
Verse 2
2. Starre.) Christs Natiuitie depended not vpon this starre, as the Priscillianists falsely surmised; but the starre vpon his natiuitie, for the seruice whereof it was created. Grego. Ho. 10.
Verse 4
4. Inquired of them.] The high Priests were rightly consulted in question of their law and religion; and by they neuer so il, are often forced to say the truths by priuiledge of their vnctions; as here, and after, they did concerning the true Messias.
Verse 11
11. Adored him.) Adoration of the B. Sacrament. This body (saith S. Chrysostom.) the Sages adored in the crib. Let vs at the least imitate them; thou seest him not now in the crib, but on the Altar; not a woman holding him, but the Priest present, and the Holy Ghost powred out aboundantly vpon the Sacrifice. Ho. 24 in 1 Cor. Ho. 7 in Mr. Ho. de sancto Philogonio.
Verse 15
15. Out of Ægypt.) This place of the Prophet (and the like in the new Testament) here applied to Christ, wheras in the letter it might seeme otherwise; teacheth vs how to interprete the old Testament, and that the principal sence is of Christ, and his Church.
Verse 16
16. Murdered.) Canonizing of Saints. By this example we learne how great credit we owe to the Church in Canonizing Saints, and celebrating their holy-daies: by whose only warrant, without any word of Scripture, these holy Innoucents haue been honoured for Martyrs, and their holy-day kept euer since the Apostles time, although they died not voluntarily, nor al perhaps circumcised, and some the children of Pagans. Aug. ep. 28. Orig. ho. 3. in diuersos.