Richard Challoner (1691–1781) was Vicar Apostolic of the London District and one of the most prolific Catholic writers of eighteenth-century England. His works — scriptural, catechetical, devotional, hagiographical, and meditative — remained standard reading for English-speaking Catholics for generations. The following passages, drawn from his principal works, represent his teaching on the Jewish role in the Passion of Christ, the supersession of the Mosaic Law by the New Covenant, the theological meaning of Jewish rejection of the Messiah, the divine punishment of the Jewish nation, and the providential dispersion of the Jewish people. All quotations are reproduced verbatim from the digitised originals held at the Internet Archive. Archaic long-s typography (ſ) from the earliest editions has been silently normalised to modern letterforms; no word has been altered. Where OCR is noisy in the original scan, the passage has been cross-checked against the page image.
I. Deicide: The Jews‘ Role in the Crucifixion
The Garden of the Soul (1775)
“It was through envy that the Jews crucified Christ: it is the devil’s sin, who continually seeks our ruin, out of pure envy, without any advantage to himself.”
(On the vice of envy)
Think Well On’t: Reflections on the Great Truths of the Christian Religion (c. 1801)
“CONSIDER, first, how the malice of the Jews, who no way relenting at the sight of the Lamb of God bleeding for the sins of the world, but continuing still in a tumultuous manner to demand that he might be crucified, Pilate at last yields to their importunity, and against his own conscience, sentences our Saviour to the death of the cross.”
(On Our Saviour Carrying His Cross)
“For whom does he suffer? For man, a poor wretched worm of the earth; for ungrateful sinners, traitors to his eternal Father, and to himself: for those very Jews that crucified him; for us mortals, who for the most part were never like to thank him for, or even so much as think of his sufferings.”
(On the Death of Our Saviour)
An Abstract of the History of the Old and New Testaments (c. 1828)
“Our Lord came to his own, that is, among his chosen people; and his own received him not. He came to impart to them everlasting life; and they chose to persecute him unto death.“
(Chap. XX: Christ is persecuted by the Jews: they seek his Death)
“Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made: taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man: look you to it. And all the people answering, said: His blood be upon us, and upon our children.“
(The condemnation of our Lord, narrating Matthew 27:24–25)
Considerations upon Christian Truths and Christian Duties, Vol. I (Jan.–Jun.) (c. 1815)
“See also, into what dismal extremities unhappy souls cast themselves, when they are once obstinately bent upon sin, in that dreadful sentence which the Jews pronounced against themselves on that occasion; His blood be upon us, and upon our children.“
(Saturday in Passion Week: Our Lord is condemned to the cross)
“But, O my soul, reflect that it was the voice of thy crying sins that far more effectually called for the death of the Son of God, than the cry of the Jews; for that tumult could have had no power to bring on his crucifixion, had not he been determined to suffer this kind of death for the expiation of thy sins.”
(Saturday in Passion Week: Our Lord is condemned to the cross)
Considerations upon Christian Truths and Christian Duties, Vol. II (Jul.–Dec.) (c. 1815)
“It was envy that made Cain murder his brother Abel: it was envy made the brethren of Joseph sell him into Egypt: it was envy made Saul so often seek the life of David: in fine, it was through envy the Jews crucified the Son of God.“
(On the vice of envy)
Challoner’s Meditations [abridged edition] (c. 1800)
“This senseless and unhappy people blindly prefer Barabbas; and demand with loud cries, that JESUS, their Messiah, may be crucified. Admire, on this occasion, the astonishing humility of our dear Redeemer, in submitting to be thus affronted and debased; and consider how desperate must have been the wound of our pride, which could not be healed but by such and so great humiliation of the Son of God.”
(Tuesday in Passion Week: Barabbas preferred before our Lord)
“CONSIDER, first, that the Jews perceiving Pilate’s desire to release our blessed Redeemer, told him that if he set him at liberty, he could not be a friend to Caesar. Pilate by way of exculpating himself washes his hands and cries out: ‘I am innocent of the blood of this man, look you to it,’ as if this empty ceremony and verbal declaration could clear him, in the sight of the just judge, from the guilt of shedding innocent blood. But if Pilate, who on this occasion acted in some measure through compulsion, was notwithstanding highly criminal, how much more inexcusable was the malice of the Jews, who impiously exclaimed: ‘His blood be upon us and upon our children?’“
(Saturday in Passion Week: Our Lord is condemned to the cross)
II. The Malice, Pride, Hypocrisy, and Blindness of the Jewish Leaders
Considerations upon Christian Truths and Christian Duties, Vol. I
“How sensibly he was touched with the crying disorders of the people of the Jews, amongst whom he lived; with their malice, their violences, their injustices, their deceits, their blasphemies, and the licentiousness of their lives: the pride, ambition, covetousness, and hypocrisy of their priests, scribes, and Pharisees; the oppressions of the poor, their contempt of virtue and of truth. Add to this, how sensibly he must have been afflicted with the hardness of their hearts, with which they resisted his graces; their obstinacy in their evil ways; their ingratitude; the opposition they made to his heavenly gospel; their blasphemous judgments of his person and miracles; their slanders and murmurings against him, and their continually laying snares for him, and persecuting him even unto death.“
(Fourth Sunday in Lent)
“See the Son of God, the judge of the living and the dead, standing with his hands tied behind him, before this insolent Jewish priest. Hear the impertinent questions he puts to him, concerning his disciples and his doctrine: and admire the courage, meekness, and evenness of soul, which thy Saviour shews in his whole comportment on this occasion.”
(On Our Saviour examined by Annas and Caiphas)
“It was thus he did by the Jews, according to the prediction of the royal prophet, Ps. lxviii. letting their eyes be darkened that they should not see; and bowing down their back always: adding iniquity upon their iniquity, &c. viz. by withdrawing his lights and his graces from them, and so giving them up to their own wicked inclinations.”
(On the judgment of God upon obstinate sinners, citing Psalm 68 as fulfilled in the Jews)
Considerations, Vol. II
“The Scribes and Pharisees were the most precise amongst the Jews, and professed the greatest zeal for the law of God, and the true religion: they prayed much, they gave large alms, and they fasted frequently; so that they passed for saints amongst the people: and yet we are here assured, by the mouth of Truth itself, that except our virtue exceed theirs, we shall have no share in his heavenly kingdom. Consider, that the justice of the Scribes, and of the Pharisees, was many ways deficient; but more especially in this, that it contented itself with reforming and regulating the outside, whilst it neglected the interior. They made clean the outside of the cup, and of the platter, whilst their inside was full of iniquity. Their good works were not done with a pure intention; they sought not God, but themselves, in all they did. And whilst they avoided the more scandalous excesses of the grosser carnal sins, they made no scruple of the spiritual sins (much more odious to God) of envy, hatred, detraction, covetousness, and an extravagant pride and conceit of themselves, joined with a contempt of all others. Thus all the good they seemed to do was quite vitiated and corrupted.”
(On the Scribes and Pharisees, and the justice required for heaven)
Challoner’s Meditations [abridged edition]
“Consider, thirdly, how sensibly he was touched with the disorders of his chosen people; their malice, their injustice, their blasphemies, and the licentiousness of their lives; the pride, ambition, hypocrisy, and sordid avarice of their priests, scribes and Pharisees; their malicious interpretations of his actions, and their continually persecuting him, even unto death. Oh, who can conceive how much our Saviour’s soul was affected with all these evils, and the cruel treatment he met with from his chosen people; and with those dreadful judgments, they drew upon themselves, instead of that mercy which he came to purchase with his blood. Death itself was not so bitter to him.”
(Tuesday, Fourth Week in Lent: On the Treason of Judas)
“What better were the Pharisees for fasting, while their souls were corrupted with pride, covetousness, malice, and hypocricy; or the Jews, who continued on their fasting days to provoke God by their customary crimes, (Isa. lviii.)”
(On the great Christian fast)
“The Scribes and Pharisees were continually objecting to our dear Redeemer, that he suffered ‘sinners to draw near unto him;’ — that ‘he received sinners, and did eat with them;’ — that ‘he was a friend of publicans and sinners.’ Unhappy men, who did not understand, that his infinite mercy and charity had brought him down from heaven on purpose to seek and to save sinners! And still more unhappy, in proudly taking themselves to be just and not sinners, and of course rejecting Him ‘who came not to call the just, but sinners,’ [Matth. ix. 13.] vainly imagining they had no need of him.”
(November 27: On our Lord’s merciful conduct towards sinners)
Abstract of the History of the Old and New Testaments
“But the most violent persecutions which our Lord had to endure, were from the Jews of Jerusalem. First, upon occasion of his curing on the sabbath-day, the infirm man at the pool of Bethesda, and bidding him take up his bed and walk, of which they pretended to make a capital crime. But when, in defence of what he had done, he told them, ‘My Father worketh until now, and I work’; they sought the more to kill him, because he did not only break the Sabbath, but also said God was his Father, making himself equal to God.“
(Chap. XX: Christ is persecuted by the Jews)
Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Vol. I+II
“Wo unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, for ye devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.“
(Blessed Christopher Bales, addressing his persecutors at trial, citing Matthew 23:14)
III. Hard-Hearted and Perfidious: The Jews at the Passion
Considerations, Vol. I
“Consider, secondly, that Pilate, imagining the Jews would relent when they should see our blessed Lord covered with his own blood, orders him to be cruelly scourged in their presence. But these hard hearted and perfidious men became more and more intent upon his death.“
(Tuesday in Passion Week)
“Such was the insatiable malice of the enemies of our Saviour, that instead of shewing him any pity, or relenting at the sight of his torments, they shout and triumph when they see him appear above the heads of the people; and, drawing nigher, they stand shaking their heads at him, rejoicing at all his sufferings, scoffing, and insulting over him. Christians, whilst you detest this Jewish malice, see you have no share in it, by your obstinacy in sin; crucifying again to yourselves the Son of God, and making a mockery of him, Heb. vi. 6.”
(On our Lord carrying His cross)
“The anguish of his soul, to see the hardness, blindness, and reprobation of his once chosen people the Jews; together with the final impenitence of Judas, and the eternal damnation of so many millions of souls, for whom he is now offering himself in sacrifice.”
(Wednesday in Holy Week: On the sufferings of our Saviour upon the cross)
“He suffers from all sorts of people; from Jews and Gentiles; great and small; priests and laity; all conspiring, as much as they can, to add to his afflictions. His enemies insult, and triumph over him; his friends are ashamed of him.”
(Wednesday in Holy Week)
Challoner’s Meditations [abridged edition]
“Such was the malice of the enemies of our Saviour, that instead of compassion at the sight of his torments, they shout, and triumph, and shake their heads at him, rejoicing at all his sufferings. Christians, while you detest this Jewish malice, take care you have no part in it by obstinacy in sin, on account of which alone he died.”
(Wednesday in Holy Week)
IV. Jerusalem Rejects Her Messiah: Prophecy and Fulfilment
Abstract of the History of the Old and New Testaments
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children, as the hen doth her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldst not? Behold your house shall be left to you desolate. And I say to you that you shall not see me, till the time come when you shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
(Our Lord’s lament over Jerusalem, Luke 13:34–35, narrated by Challoner)
“When you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army, then know that the desolation thereof is at hand. Then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them that are in the midst thereof depart out. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things may be fulfilled that are written. And there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the sword, and shall be led away captives into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, till the times of the nations be fulfilled.“
(Our Lord’s prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, Luke 21:20–24, narrated by Challoner)
Considerations, Vol. I
“It was thus he did by the Jews, according to the prediction of the royal prophet, Ps. lxviii. letting their eyes be darkened that they should not see; and bowing down their back always: adding iniquity upon their iniquity, viz. by withdrawing his lights and his graces from them, and so giving them up to their own wicked inclinations.”
(On God’s judgment upon the Jews)
V. The Rejection of Saul as a Figure of Jewish Reprobation
Abstract of the History of the Old and New Testaments
“This rejection of Saul, once the elect of God, was a figure of the reprobation of the Jews, once his chosen people, for refusing to receive and obey their Messias, Jesus Christ the Son of God.“
(On the rejection of King Saul by God, 1 Kings 15)
VI. The Kingdom Taken from the Jews and Given to Another
Considerations, Vol. II
“God sent to them at divers times his servants the prophets, to call for the fruits of his vineyard; but they returned him no fruits: they even persecuted his messengers, and put several of them to death. At length he sent them his only Son: and him they cast off, condemned to death, and crucified. And therefore, as our Lord here foretels, the kingdom of God (that is, the vineyard of his church) has been long ago taken away from them, to be given to a nation, (that is to the Gentiles) that should bring forth the fruits thereof. … O take heed, lest if thou go on in this perversity, thou fall under the like sentence as the Jews did, of being brought to an evil end, and the kingdom of God be taken away from thee, and given to another.“
(November 26: On the Parable of the Vineyard, Matt. 21:33)
Challoner’s Meditations [abridged edition]
“Conclude, in future, to look well to the vineyard of your soul, lest the kingdom of God be taken away from you, and given to another; and, like the unhappy Jews, figured in this parable, you yourself be brought to an evil end.“
(November 26: On the Parable of the Vineyard)
VII. Supersessionism: The Old Law Abolished, the New Law Established
The Catholic Christian Instructed (c. 1800)
“We have the prophecy of Malachias, chap. i. 10, 11, where God rejecting the Jewish sacrifices, declares his acceptance of the sacrifice or pure offering which should be made to him in every place among the Gentiles; which text the ancient fathers, both Greek and Latin, urge to show that the eucharist is a sacrifice.”
(On the Scriptural proofs of the sacrifice of the Mass)
“Under the new law we have an altar (and consequently a sacrifice), whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle. That is, they who continue in the service of the old law. And the same apostle makes a parallel between the partakers of the Christian sacrifice and those that partake of the Jewish and Heathenish victims.”
(On the sacrifice of the Mass, citing Heb. 13:10 and 1 Cor. 10)
“The observation of the Jewish festivals; which, with the old law, were now abolished, but were taken up by the Galatians, together with circumcision, upon the recommendation of certain false teachers.”
(On the observance of Christian feasts and fasts, on Galatians 4:10)
The Douay-Rheims Bible with Challoner’s Notes (revised 1750)
On Malachias 1:11 — “For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean offering” — Challoner’s annotation reads:
“Ver. 11. A clean offering, viz. the precious body and blood of Christ in the eucharistic sacrifice.”
(Annotation on Malachias 1:11, the prophecy of the rejection of Jewish sacrifice and the universal clean offering)
On Hebrews 7:18–19 — Challoner gives the text: “There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof: for the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.”
(The Mosaic Law set aside on account of its weakness and unprofitableness; Hebrews 7:18–19)
On Galatians 3:24–25: “Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.”
Challoner’s note: “Chap. 3, ver. 24. Pedagogue, Schoolmaster, conductor or instructor.”
(The law as a schoolmaster leading to Christ, now superseded; Galatians 3:24–25)
Considerations, Vol. II
“In the old law a great variety of these sacrifices was prescribed, all of them figures only, and imperfect shadows of the great sacrifice of the law of grace, which we celebrate in the blessed Eucharist: a sacrifice in which the Son of God himself is both priest and victim. Consider, secondly, that the ancient sacrifices being but figures, have given way to the reality, that is to the new sacrifice of Christ’s institution.”
(On the sacrifice of the Eucharist)
“This new sacrifice of the Christian church: this clean offering to be ‘offered in every place among the Gentiles,’ is foretold by the prophet Malachy, (i. 11.) and accepted by the Lord, who declares he will receive no more of the Jewish sacrifices, (v. 10.)”
(On the sacrifice of the Eucharist)
“The particular day appointed by the Mosaic law was only ceremonial, and is now no longer of obligation. Sunday, the day on which were accomplished the great mysteries of our Lord’s resurrection, and the descent of the Holy Ghost by which the work of our Redemption, and the glorious promulgation of the new law was completed, was substituted for the Jewish Sabbath by the Church in the time of the apostles.”
(September 25: On keeping holy the Lord’s Day)
Abstract of the History of the Old and New Testaments
“CONSIDER, first, that the Old Testament was a figure of the New; and all the most remarkable events there recorded by the Spirit of God, have a prophetic relation to Christ, and his church of the New Testament. Thus the deliverance of the children of Israel from their Egyptian slavery, was a figure of the redemption of man by Christ, from the bondage of Satan and sin.”
(On the figures of the blessed Eucharist in the Old Testament)
Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Vol. I+II
“‘The priesthood being changed, there is made also of necessity a change of the law, and consequently the priesthood being abolished, the law and religion is quite gone.‘”
(Speech of Blessed Edward Bamber at his trial, citing St. Paul, Heb. 7:12)
VIII. The Rending of the Temple Veil as the End of the Old Covenant
Considerations, Vol. I
“The veil of the temple, that hangs before the inward sanctuary, is rent from top to bottom, to shew that the law and its figures are all now accomplished, and the sanctuary of heaven laid open.”
(Wednesday in Holy Week: On the sufferings of our Saviour upon the cross)
Challoner’s Meditations [abridged edition]
“The veil of the temple, which hangs before the inward sanctuary, is rent from top to bottom, to show that the law and its figures are all now accomplished, and that the sanctuary of heaven is laid open.”
(Wednesday in Holy Week)
IX. The Jews as Enemies of the Gospel; the Mystery of Their Blindness
The Douay-Rheims Bible with Challoner’s Notes
On Romans 11:25–28: “For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, of this mystery: (lest you should be wise in your own conceits) that blindness in part hath happened in Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles should come in. And so all Israel should be saved … As concerning the gospel, indeed, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are most dear for the sake of the fathers.”
Challoner’s note on v. 22: “The gentiles are here admonished not to be proud nor to glory against the Jews; but to take occasion rather from their fall to fear and to be humble, lest they be cast off.”
(Romans 11:25–28 with annotation)
X. St. Stephen’s Accusation of the Jews Before the Sanhedrin
The Douay-Rheims Bible with Challoner’s Notes
Acts 7:51–53 — St. Stephen’s words to the Sanhedrin, given verbatim in Challoner’s translation:
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost, as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One, of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of Angels, and have not kept it.”
(Acts 7:51–53)
Abstract of the History of the Old and New Testaments
“There arose some of the Synagogue … and the scribes; and running together they took him, and brought him before the council. And they set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceases not to speak against the holy place and the law.“
(On the martyrdom of St. Stephen; Acts 6:9–13, narrated by Challoner)
XI. The Jews Persecute the Apostolic Church
Abstract of the History of the Old and New Testaments
“The unbelieving Jews raised such a persecution against them, charging them with treason against Caesar in preaching up another king, viz. the Lord Jesus; that the brethren were obliged to send away Paul and Silas by night to Berea.“
(On the persecution of St. Paul and Silas at Thessalonica; Acts 17:5–10, narrated by Challoner)
XII. The Synagogue: From People of God to “Last Legs”
The Grounds of the Old Religion (1742)
“Notwithstanding the Synagogue was then upon its last legs, Christ tells the people and his disciples: The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do.”
(On the authority of the Church, citing Matthew 23:2–3)
“Now let the Jews tell, says Mr. Lesley, Christianity Demonstrated, 7th Edit. p. 101, in which Son of David this is fulfilled, except only in our Christ; and how this is made good to the priests and Levites otherwise than as Isaiah prophesied, Chap. lxvi. v. 21. ‘And I will also take of them [the Gentiles] for Priests and for Levites, saith the Lord.’ It must then be visible to all Christians, that this glorious promise relates to the Church of Christ; and that all nature shall sooner turn upside down, than the Church shall cease to have a continual succession of orthodox pastors.”
(On the Messianic prophecy of Jeremiah 33, challenging the Jews to account for its fulfilment)
“Know, that such are no Church of Christ, but a Synagogue of Antichrist … nor let them flatter themselves that they quote the Scriptures for their tenets; since the Devil also quoted scripture, which consists not in the reading, but in the right understanding.”
(On sects and schisms, quoting St. Jerome)
“They were esteemed by all orthodox antiquity as badges of error, and infallible marks of Synagogues of Satan.“
(On the marks of the true Church and false sects)
XIII. The Synagogue of Satan: Revelation 2:9
The Douay-Rheims Bible with Challoner’s Notes
Revelation 2:9 — The letter to the Church of Smyrna, in Challoner’s translation:
“I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich: and thou art blasphemed by them, that say they are Jews and are not, but are the Synagogue of satan.“
(Apocalypse / Revelation 2:9)
XIV. The Catholics Compared to Christ Before Jewish Accusers
Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Vol. I+II
“‘Now, said I, you give me occasion to rejoice, because you treat me with the same title as the Jews did my Saviour, whom they called a seducer. I added, that he that first taught the law of Christ to the English nation, (viz. St. Augustine) was a priest like me, and was in like manner sent hither by the pope, viz. St. Gregory the great.'”
(Speech of Father Thomas Maxfield at his trial, c. 1616)
“‘Father Heath calmly replied, with no other justice can I be called a seducer by you, than with what my Lord Jesus Christ was called a seducer by the Jews.‘”
(Father Henry Heath O.F.M. at his trial, 1643)
“‘It was for this reason I asked in the morning whether the gentlemen of the jury were Christians, intimating that Christians might perhaps condemn the priests of the order of Aaron, but not those of the institution of Christ; as on the other hand Jews would condemn Christian priests, but not their own.‘”
(A confessor’s speech at trial)
“‘I beseech God not to revenge my innocent blood upon the nation, or on those that were the cause of it, with my last breath.'”
(Last speech of Blessed Oliver Plunket, 1681)
XV. The Jews of Lincoln: Ritual Martyrdom of St. Hugh
Britannia Sancta: The Lives of the Most Celebrated British, English, Scottish, and Irish Saints, Vol. II (1745)
“Anno 1255, a Christian child of ten years of age, fell into the hands of the Jews of Lincoln; who kept him close for ten days, feeding him with milk, and such like diet, agreeable to children, whilst by letters they invited several of their brethren from other cities to the intended tragedy. At the end of the ten days, in hatred of Christ and the Christian religion, they arraigned the innocent before their tribunal, where one of them sat to personate Pilate; and by sentence given by this wicked judge, they whipped him unmercifully, then crowned him with thorns, spit in his face, pricked him with their penknives, drenched him with gall; and after diverse other mockeries and blasphemies, nailed him to a cross, and at length put an end to his sufferings by piercing his heart with a lance. After the tragedy was over they took him off the cross, and privately buried him: but the next morning they found the earth had cast up the body: upon which they flung it into a well, to conceal their wickedness. In the mean while the mother of the child received intelligence that the last time her son had been seen, he was playing with some Jewish children, and went into the house of one Copin a Jew. This moved her to go to that house, where she discovered the body in the well. The master of the house, being apprehended, in hopes of saving his own life, confessed the whole matter; and impeached diverse of his countrymen. He and eighteen more of the principal actors were afterwards publicly executed. But the Canons of Lincoln, taking the body of the child, solemnly interred it in their cathedral; where he was from that time honoured as a Saint and a Martyr.”
(Life of St. Hugh of Lincoln, child martyr; July 27)
XVI. St. Paul: Conversion from Jewish Persecutor to Apostle of the Gentiles
Challoner’s Meditations [abridged edition]
“Consider, first, the wonders of the grace of God in the conversion of St. Paul, suddenly changed from a fiery zealot of the Jewish religion, and a bloody persecutor of the church of Christ, into a fervent Christian, a zealous preacher of the gospel, a vessel of election to publish the name of Christ to nations and kings; a doctor of the Gentiles, an apostle of Jesus, and an eminent saint. … never cease to pray to him for the conversion of infidels and sinners.“
(January 25: On the Conversion of St. Paul)
“St. Paul was a proud, blasphemous Pharisee, a bloody persecutor, a ravenous wolf, scattering and destroying the sheep of Christ. And yet he is made in a moment by a miracle of grace, a vessel of election to carry the name of Christ before nations and kings, and the children of Israel.”
(June 29: On Sts. Peter and Paul)
XVII. The Wednesday Fast: Commemorating the Jews‘ Council Against Christ
The Catholic Christian Instructed
“In the East, instead of the Saturday, they fast upon the Wednesday, as being the day on which the Jews held their council against Christ, and on which he was sold by Judas.“
(On the days of fasting and abstinence)
XVIII. Prayer for the Conversion of Jews, Pagans, and Mahometans
The Garden of the Soul (1775)
“Extend thy mercy also to all poor infidels, that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death: to all those nations that know not thee, and that have not yet received the faith and law of thy Son their Saviour; to all Pagans, Mahometans and Jews. Remember, O Lord, that all these poor souls are made after thy own image and likeness, and redeemed by the blood of thy Son. O let not Satan any longer exercise his tyranny over these thy creatures to the great dishonour of thy name. Let not the precious blood of thy Son be shed for them in vain. Send among them zealous preachers and apostolic labourers, endued with the like graces and gifts as thy apostles were, and bless them with the like success.”
(A form of intercession for infidels and unbelievers)
Sources
All texts are in the public domain and are available in full at the Internet Archive:
Works covered in this compilation:
- The Holy Bible (Douay-Rheims, revised by Challoner, 1750)
- An Abstract of the History of the Old and New Testaments (c. 1828)
- Considerations upon Christian Truths and Christian Duties, Vol. I (Jan.–Jun.) (c. 1815)
- Considerations upon Christian Truths and Christian Duties, Vol. II (Jul.–Dec.) (c. 1815)
- Considerations (abridged Louisville reprint, c. 1800)
- Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Vol. I (Manchester, 1803)
- Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Vols. I+II (Philadelphia, 1839)
- The Grounds of the Old Religion (1742)
- Britannia Sancta, Vol. I (1745)
- Britannia Sancta, Vol. II (1745)
- The Garden of the Soul (1775)
- Think Well On’t (c. 1801)
- The Catholic Christian Instructed (c. 1800)
- Challoner’s Meditations (abridged, c. 1800)
- The Lives of the Fathers of the Eastern Deserts (1852)
- The Lord’s Prayer and the Angelic Salutation (1915)