George Leo Haydock, on Esth 4:2

“And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king’s court.”

“Sackcloth. Greek adds, “and ashes.” Such an appearance was deemed disrespectful. God forbids his priests to act thus, Leviticus xxi.. 1. See Genesis xli. 14. Yet the miserable ought not to be entirely excluded from the king’s presence, as he ought to be their protector.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.