Communion of Saint Rose of Lima

Psalm 25:4-6

The five wise virgins took oil in their vessels with the lamps: and at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh: go ye forth to meet Christ the Lord.

Haydock

Verse 4. Council. Heb. “men.” — Doers. Heb. “men of darkness;” which means the wicked, (Bert.) who love darkness. Prot. “dissemblers.” H. — The sacred minister ought to avoid evil company. C. — David had often people of this description, like Joab and Abner, in his train; but he did not approve of their conduct. Some would restrain his words to idolaters: but this would make his declaration of little importance to Christians, as many would say the same, though they dare not say that they flee from wicked society. We must also banish all such thoughts as would destroy us. Bert. — David was inspired to speak the sentiments of his soul, and praise his own sincerity more than ordinary men may do. He instructs us to have no society with the conventibles of any false religion. W.

Verse 6. Innocent. Heb. “in innocence,” avoiding every thing which may defile and render me unfit to approach thy holy altar. Many things (C.) of themselves innocent, (H.) excluded the priests of the old law from officiating, and if they had partaken of any idolatrous sacrifices, they lost their dignity for ever. Ezec. xliv. 12. How much greater ought to be the sanctity of Christian priests! The Jews carefully abstained from eating what the law forbade. Dan. i. 8. Tob. i. 12. David would not sit down to a feast with the proud. Ps. c. 5. It was customary to was before meat (Mat. xv. 2. and Mar. vii. 3.) and prayer. Aristeas informs us that the Sept. washed their hands every morning, before they began to translate the Bible, to shew what purity of soul was requisite. Pilate used the like ceremony, when he would have no hand in the condemnation of our Saviour; (Matt. xxvii. 24. C.) and thus people declared their innocence. Deut. xxi. 6. M. — People entering the house of God, and priests at the altar, adopt the same symbols of interior purity, and ought to be penetrated with the like sentiments. H. — David opposes the society of the good to that of the wicked, knowing that the former is a great inducement to virtue, and he declares that he will wash or converse with such. Bert. — These words are recited by the priest, to put him in mind of the purity required. Lev. xvi. 4. W.

⇦ Back to Saint Rose of Lima