OmniVerbo Catholic Study Bible

Study Companion

No. Here “till” establishes what was true before Jesus’ birth; it does not say that the situation changed afterward. “He knew her not” means that Joseph did not have sexual relations with Mary (Matthew 1:25). Matthew is emphasizing Jesus’ virginal conception, not describing later marital relations.

Challoner’s annotation on this verse explains that this use of “till” is a biblical manner of speaking that makes no assertion about what happens afterward. He refers to St. Jerome’s defence of Mary’s perpetual virginity.

Likewise, “first born son” does not imply that other children followed. It was a designation for the child who first opened the womb, even if he was an only child. Catholic teaching holds that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after Jesus’ birth.

Study Companion

Here “charity” means love: specifically, the love of God and of our neighbour for God’s sake. It does not mean only giving money or help to the poor, as the word often does today.

The Douay-Rheims follows the Latin Vulgate’s caritas, traditionally rendered “charity” in Catholic English. This names the theological virtue by which we love God above all things and our neighbour as ourselves for love of God—not merely a feeling of affection.

Paul’s context makes the distinction clear. He says that even giving away all one’s goods can be done without charity (1 Corinthians 13:3). Then he describes what this love looks like: “Charity is patient, is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). So “love” is a good plain-English explanation, provided we understand it as the self-giving love Paul describes.

Study Companion

Catholics understand Jesus’ words as referring to the Eucharist: we truly receive Jesus Christ himself—his Body and Blood, together with his soul and divinity—not merely a symbol of him.

At Mass, through the consecration, the bread and wine become Christ’s Body and Blood, while their appearances, taste, and other perceptible properties remain those of bread and wine. The Church calls this change transubstantiation. This is a sacramental eating, not the tearing or consuming of Christ’s body as ordinary flesh. As Challoner’s annotation to John 6:63 explains, Christ’s living body is not divided or mangled.

The surrounding verses connect this gift with sharing Christ’s life: “He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him” (John 6:57). “Abideth” means “remains” or “dwells.” Worthy reception of Holy Communion deepens our union with Christ; it is not an automatic guarantee of salvation apart from faith, repentance, and perseverance in grace.

Catholics also believe that the whole Christ is received under either species—under the appearance of bread alone or wine alone. As Challoner’s annotation to John 6:54 explains, his living Body and Blood cannot be separated. Thus someone receiving only the consecrated host receives Christ fully and fulfils the command to receive both his Body and Blood.