On the Dress of Virgins.

 1. Discipline, the safeguard of hope, the bond of faith, the guide of the way of salvation, the stimulus and nourishment of good dispositions, the tea

 2. But if in Holy Scripture discipline is frequently and everywhere prescribed, and the whole foundation of religion and of faith proceeds from obedie

 3. My address is now to virgins, whose glory, as it is more eminent, excites the greater interest. This is the flower of the ecclesiastical seed, the

 4. For that is not an empty carefulness nor a vain fear, which takes counsel for the way of salvation, which guards the commandments of the Lord and o

 5. But if continency follows Christ, and virginity is destined for the kingdom of God, what have they to do with earthly dress, and with ornaments, wh

 6. Paul proclaims in a loud and lofty voice, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is cru

 7. But there are some rich women, and wealthy in the fertility of means, who prefer their own wealth, and contend that they ought to use these blessin

 8. You call yourself wealthy and rich but Paul meets your riches, and with his own voice prescribes for the moderating of your dress and ornament wit

 9. You say that you are wealthy and rich. But not everything that can be done ought also to be done nor ought the broad desires that arise out of the

 10. You say that you are wealthy and rich but it becomes not a virgin to boast of her riches, since Holy Scripture says, “What hath pride profited us

 11. You say that you are wealthy and rich, and you think that you should use those things which God has willed you to possess. Use them, certainly, bu

 12. The characteristics of ornaments, and of garments, and the allurements of beauty, are not fitting for any but prostitutes and immodest women and

 13. Moreover Isaiah, full of the Holy Spirit, cries out and chides the daughters of Sion, corrupted with gold, and silver, and raiment, and rebukes th

 14. For God neither made the sheep scarlet or purple, nor taught the juices of herbs and shell-fish to dye and colour wool, nor arranged necklaces wit

 15. And indeed in that very matter, for the sake of the fear which faith suggests to me, for the sake of the love which brotherhood requires, I think

 16. The voice of the warning apostle is, “Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened for even Christ our passover is s

 17. Are you not afraid, I entreat you, being such as you are, that when the day of resurrection comes, your Maker may not recognise you again, and may

 18. And since we are seeking the advantage of continency, let us also avoid everything that is pernicious and hostile to it. And I will not pass over

 19. But what of those who frequent promiscuous baths who prostitute to eyes that are curious to lust, bodies that are dedicated to chastity and modes

 20. For this reason, therefore, the Church frequently mourns over her virgins hence she groans at their scandalous and detestable stories hence the

 21. Therefore hear me, O virgins, as a parent hear, I beseech you, one who fears while he warns hear one who is faithfully consulting for your advan

 22. Hold fast, O virgins! hold fast what you have begun to be hold fast what you shall be. A great reward awaits you, a great recompense of virtue, t

 23. The first decree commanded to increase and to multiply the second enjoined continency. While the world is still rough and void, we are propagated

 24. Every one of which things, O good virgins, you ought to observe, to love, to fulfil, who, giving yourselves to God and Christ, are advancing in bo

6. Paul proclaims in a loud and lofty voice, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”15    Gal. vi. 14. And yet a virgin in the Church glories concerning her fleshly appearance and the beauty of her body! Paul adds, and says, “For they that are Christ’s have crucified their flesh, with its faults and lusts.”16    Gal. v. 24. And she who professes to have renounced the lusts and vices of the flesh, is found in the midst of those very things which she has renounced! Virgin, thou art taken, thou art exposed, thou boastest one thing and affectest another. You sprinkle yourself with the stains of carnal concupiscence, although you are a candidate of purity and modesty. “Cry,” says the Lord to Isaiah, “All flesh is grass, and all the glory of it as the flower of the grass: the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth; but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.”17    Isa. xl. 6. It is becoming for no Christian, and especially it is not becoming for a virgin, to regard any glory and honour of the flesh, but only to desire the word of God, to embrace benefits which shall endure for ever. Or, if she must glory in the flesh, then assuredly let her glory when she is tortured in confession of the name; when a woman is found to be stronger than the tortures; when she suffers fire, or the cross, or the sword, or the wild beasts, that she may be crowned. These are the precious jewels of the flesh, these are the better ornaments of the body.

VI. Paulus forti ac sublimi voce proclamat: Mihi autem absit gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi, per quem mihi mundus crucifixus est, et ego mundo. (Gal. VI, 14): et virgo in Ecclesia de specie carnis ac de corporis pulchritudine gloriatur! Addit Paulus et dicit: Qui enim sunt Christi, carnem suam crucifixerunt cum vitiis et concupiscentiis (Gal. V, 24): et quae se concupiscentiis carnis et vitiis renuntiasse profitetur, in iisdem quibus renuntiaverat, invenitur! Deprehenderis virgo, detegeris. Aliud esse te jactas, et aliud affectas. Maculis te concupiscentiae carnalis aspergis , cum integritatis candidata sis et pudoris. Clama,0446A inquit Esaiae Deus: Omnis caro faenum, et omnis claritas ejus ut flos foeni. Aruit foenum, et flos decidit: sermo autem Domini manet in aeternum (Isa. XL, 6-8.) Neminem christianum decet, et maxime virginem non decet, claritatem ullam computare carnis et honorem, sed solum appetere sermonem Dei, bona in aeternum mansura complecti. Aut si in carne sit gloriandum, tunc plane quando in nominis confessione cruciatur, quando fortior femina viris torquentibus invenitur, quando ignes aut cruces aut ferrum aut bestias patitur ut coronetur. Illa sunt carnis pretiosa monilia, illa corporis ornamenta meliora.