2. * i.e. The Church.
3. * The writer is doubtless referring to a system of artificial irrigation by means of fountains or hose pipes.
4. + This is an allusion to the Sanctus.
5. * Lit., "when it is being consecrated." The context shows that this refers to the commencement of the Mass proper, or "Missa fidelium." The faithful are not to take advantage of the opening of the doors, when the catechumens are dismissed, to make their escape from the Church.
6. + The allusion is to the Three Holy Names pronounced in baptism.
7. * The Syriac verb, of which this is a rather inadequate rendering, connotes the idea of casting an influence. It is employed in the Syriac New Testament at Lk. i, 3 5, and Jn.. i, 14., to translate the two Greek verbs which we render "overshadow" and "dwell."
8. + Compare the following passage from another Homily (Vol. iv, p. 597)"Not to the priest is given authority that he should sacrifice the Only-begotten, and bring Him in before His Father as a sacrifice for sinners; but the Holy Spirit comes forth from the Father, and descends and lights down and dwells in the bread and makes it the Body. . . . He gives permission to the priest to break, and then he breaks and carries forth and scatters it upon sinners, to justify them. The Spirit within, He holds It forth to the priest who is without, even as the Cherub held out (the coals) to the man of the line linen " (the reference is to Ezek. x, 2, 3).
9. ++ A class of the catechumens.
10. § Or, perhaps, "when they ask for him," i.e. for the delinquent Christian.
11. || I.e. "this crying of 'Holy.'"
12. * Beth Qudhshâ usually means "the sanctuary," but here it denotes the Church as a whole.
13. + The use of the first person singular here and below is curious, as it is in no way conditioned by the metre.
14. ++ This would seem not to refer to sanctuary doors, but to the doors of the Church. The writer has dealt with the case of those who go out when the catechumens are dismissed; he now turns to those who choose this point for coming in. After this the Church doors were locked.
15. * The word here employed is also used in the sense of a whispered incantation. Here, as the worshipper is to listen to what is said, the word would seem to denote merely a solemn ritual prayer.
16. * I.e. "the type was fulfilled by," etc.
17. * The translation of this sentence is strictly literal.
18. + The text prefixes the letter wau, "and," to this word, which gives it the meaning "and unless," or "and if not;" but with this the sentence cannot be construed, and the additional letter must be omitted as either a misprint or a scribe's error.
19. ++ The word implies the daring of rashness and impiety; it often has the meaning "rebellious," and this is, no doubt, the sense here.
20. § Or, "distilling in drops."
This text was transcribed by Roger Pearse, 2005. All material on this page is in the public domain - copy freely.