The Martyrdom of the holy Innocents whose holy-day is kept the 28 of December.16Then Herod perceaving that he was deluded by the Sages, was exceeding angrie; and sending ″ murdered al the men children that were in Bethlehem, & in al the borders therof, from two yeare old and under, according to the time which he had diligently sought out of the Sages. 17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremie the Prophet saying: Iere. 31, 15.18A voice in Rama was heard, crying out & much wayling: Rachel bewayling her children, & would not be comforted, because they are not. ✠
The Ghospel on Twelfth-Eve.19But when Herod was dead, behold an Angel of our Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Ægypt, 20saying: Arise, and take the child & his mother, & goe into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child. 21Who arose, & took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22But hearing that Archelaus raigned in Jewrie for Herod his father, he feared to goe thither: and being warned in sleep retyred into the quarters of Galilee. 23And coming he dwelt in a citie called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was sayd by the Prophetes: That he shal be called a Nazarite.
ANNOTATIONS
Chap. II.
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 unto him the twelfth day after his Nativitie, and therfore is Twelfth-day highly celebrated in the Catholike Church for joy of the calling of us Gentils. His baptisme also and first miracle are celebrated on the same day.
2. Starre.) Christs Nativitie depended not upon this starre, as the Priscillianists falsely surmised; but the starre upon his nativitie, for the service whereof it was created, Grego. Ho. 10.
Pilgrimage.2. Come to adore.) This coming so farre of devotion to visit and adore Christ in the place of his birth, was properly a Pilgrimage to his Person; & warranteth the Faithful in the like kind of external worship done to holy Persons, places, and things.
4. Inquired of them.) The high Priests were rightly consulted in question of their law and religion; and be they never so il, are often forced to say the truth by privilege of their unction; as here, and after, they did concerning the true Messias.
Adoration of the B. Sacrament.11. Adored him.) This body (sayth S. Chrisostom) the Sages adored in the crib. Let us 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 upon the Sacrifice. Ho. 24. in 1. Cor. Ho. 7. in Mt. Ho. de sancto Philogonio.
Psal. 78.
Esa. 60.
Chrys. homil. 27. in Mat., ho. 1. Theo.
Cic. de Divinat.
Pli. l. 20.11. Treasures.) These treasures are as it were the first fruits of those riches, and guifts, which (according to the Prophecies of David and Esay) Gentilitie should offer to Christ and his Church, and now have offered, specially from the time of Constantine the Great. As also these three Sages, being principal men of their Countrie, represent the whole state of Princes, Kings, and Emperours, that were (according to the said Prophecies) to beleeve in Christ, to humble themselves to his crosse, to foster, enrich, adorne and defend his Church. The three kings.Whereupon it is also a very convenient and agreable tradition of antiquitie, and a received opinion among the Faithful, * not lacking testimonies of ancient writers, and much for the honour of our Saviour, that these three also were kings: to wit, either according to the state
