Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

Objection 1: It would seem that virginity does not consist in integrity of the flesh. For Augustine says (De Nup. et Concup.) that "virginity is the continual meditation on incorruption in a corruptible flesh." But meditation does not concern the flesh. Therefore virginity is not situated in the flesh.

Objection 2: Further, virginity denotes a kind of purity. Now Augustine says (De Civ. Dei i, 18) that "purity dwells in the soul." Therefore virginity is not incorruption of the flesh.

Objection 3: Further, the integrity of the flesh would seem to consist in the seal of virginal purity. Yet sometimes the seal is broken without loss of virginity. For Augustine says (De Civ. Dei i, 18) that "those organs may be injured through being wounded by mischance. Physicians, too, sometimes do for the sake of health that which makes one shudder to see: and a midwife has been known to destroy by touch the proof of virginity that she sought." And he adds: "Nobody, I think, would be so foolish as to deem this maiden to have forfeited even bodily sanctity, though she lost the integrity of that organ." Therefore virginity does not consist in incorruption of the flesh.

Objection 4: Further, corruption of the flesh consists chiefly in resolution of the semen: and this may take place without copulation, whether one be asleep or awake. Yet seemingly virginity is not lost without copulation: for Augustine says (De Virgin. xiii) that "virginal integrity and holy continency that refrains from all sexual intercourse is the portion of angels." Therefore virginity does not consist in incorruption of the flesh.

On the contrary, Augustine says (De Virgin. viii) that "virginity is continence whereby integrity of the flesh is vowed, consecrated and observed in honor of the Creator of both soul and flesh."

I answer that, Virginity takes its name apparently from "viror" , and just as a thing is described as fresh and retaining its freshness, so long as it is not parched by excessive heat, so too, virginity denotes that the person possessed thereof is unseared by the heat of concupiscence which is experienced in achieving the greatest bodily pleasure which is that of sexual intercourse. Hence, Ambrose says (De Virgin. i, 5) that "virginal chastity is integrity free of pollution."

Now venereal pleasures offer three points for consideration. The first is on the part of the body, viz. the violation of the seal of virginity. The second is the link between that which concerns the soul and that which concerns the body, and this is the resolution of the semen, causing sensible pleasure. The third is entirely on the part of the soul, namely the purpose of attaining this pleasure. Of these three the first is accidental to the moral act, which as such must be considered in reference to the soul. The second stands in the relation of matter to the moral act, since the sensible passions are the matters of moral acts. But the third stands in the position of form and complement, because the essence of morality is perfected in that which concerns the reason. Since then virginity consists in freedom from the aforesaid corruption, it follows that the integrity of the bodily organ is accidental to virginity; while freedom from pleasure in resolution of the semen is related thereto materially; and the purpose of perpetually abstaining from this pleasure is the formal and completive element in virginity.

Reply to Objection 1: This definition of Augustine's expresses directly that which is formal in virginity. For "meditation" denotes reason's purpose; and the addition "perpetual" does not imply that a virgin must always retain this meditation actually, but that she should bear in mind the purpose of always persevering therein. The material element is expressed indirectly by the words "on incorruption in a corruptible body." This is added to show the difficulty of virginity: for if the flesh were incorruptible, it would not be difficult to maintain a perpetual meditation on incorruption.

Reply to Objection 2: It is true that purity, as to its essence, is in the soul; but as to its matter, it is in the body: and it is the same with virginity. Wherefore Augustine says (De Virgin. viii) that "although virginity resides in the flesh," and for this reason is a bodily quality, "yet it is a spiritual thing, which a holy continency fosters and preserves."

Reply to Objection 3: As stated above, the integrity of a bodily organ is accidental to virginity, in so far as a person, through purposely abstaining from venereal pleasure, retains the integrity of a bodily organ. Hence if the organ lose its integrity by chance in some other way, this is no more prejudicial to virginity than being deprived of a hand or foot.

Reply to Objection 4: Pleasure resulting from resolution of semen may arise in two ways. If this be the result of the mind's purpose, it destroys virginity, whether copulation takes place or not. Augustine, however, mentions copulation, because such like resolution is the ordinary and natural result thereof. In another way this may happen beside the purpose of the mind, either during sleep, or through violence and without the mind's consent, although the flesh derives pleasure from it, or again through weakness of nature, as in the case of those who are subject to a flow of semen. In such cases virginity is not forfeit, because such like pollution is not the result of impurity which excludes virginity.

Articulus 1

Argumentum 1

Ad primum sic proceditur. Videtur quod virginitas non consistat in integritate carnis.

Dicit enim Augustinus, in libro de nupt. Et concup., quod virginitas est in carne corruptibili incorruptionis perpetua meditatio.

Sed meditatio non pertinet ad carnem.

Ergo virginitas non consistit in carne.

Argumentum 2

Praeterea, virginitas pudicitiam quandam importat. Sed Augustinus dicit, in I de CIV. Dei, quod pudicitia consistit in anima.

Ergo virginitas non consistit in carnis incorruptione.

Argumentum 3

Praeterea, carnis integritas videtur consistere in signaculo virginalis pudoris. Sed quandoque absque virginitatis praeiudicio frangitur illud signaculum.

Dicit enim Augustinus, in I de CIV. Dei, quod membra illa possunt diversis casibus vulnerata vim perpeti; et medici aliquando, saluti opitulantes, haec ibi faciunt quae horret aspectus; obstetrix etiam virginis cuiusdam integritatem manu velut explorans, dum inspicit, perdidit.

Et subdit, non opinor quemquam tam stulte sapere ut huic periisse aliquid existimet etiam de ipsius corporis sanctitate, quamvis membri illius integritate iam perdita.

Ergo virginitas non consistit in carnis incorruptione.

Argumentum 4

Praeterea, corruptio carnis maxime in seminis resolutione consistit, quae potest fieri sine concubitu, vel in dormiendo vel in vigilando. Sed sine concubitu non videtur perdi virginitas, dicit enim Augustinus, in libro de virginit., quod virginalis integritas, et per piam continentiam ab omni concubitu immunitas, angelica portio est.

Ergo virginitas non consistit in carnis incorruptione.

Sed Contra

Sed contra est quod Augustinus, in eodem libro, dicit quod virginitas est continentia qua integritas carnis ipsi creatori animae et carnis vovetur, consecratur, servatur.

Corpus

Respondeo dicendum quod nomen virginitatis a virore sumptum videtur. Et sicut illud dicitur virens in suo virore persistere quod non est ex superabundantia caloris adustionem expertum, ita etiam virginitas hoc importat, quod persona cui inest immunis sit a concupiscentiae adustione, quae esse videtur in consummatione maximae delectationis corporalis, qualis est venereorum delectatio.

Unde Ambrosius dicit, in libro de virginitate, quod castitas virginalis est expers contagionis integritas.

In delectatione autem venereorum tria est considerare. Unum quidem quod est ex parte corporis, scilicet violatio signaculi virginalis. Aliud autem est in quo coniungitur id quod est animae cum eo quod est corporis, scilicet ipsa resolutio seminis delectationem sensibilem causans. Tertium autem est solum ex parte animae, scilicet propositum perveniendi ad talem delectationem.

In quibus tribus, id quod primo positum est, per accidens se habet ad moralem actum, qui non consideratur per se nisi secundum ea quae sunt animae. Secundum vero materialiter se habet ad actum moralem, nam sensibiles passiones sunt materia Moralium actuum. Tertium vero se habet formaliter et completive, quia ratio Moralium in eo quod est rationis completur. Quia igitur virginitas dicitur per remotionem praedictae corruptionis, consequens est quod integritas membri corporalis per accidens se habeat ad virginitatem. Ipsa autem immunitas a delectatione quae consistit in seminis resolutione, se habet materialiter.

Ipsum autem propositum perpetuo abstinendi a tali delectatione se habet formaliter et completive in virginitate.

Ad 1

Ad primum ergo dicendum quod illa definitio Augustini tangit quidem in recto id quod est formale in virginitate, nam per meditationem intelligitur propositum rationis. Quod autem additur, perpetua, non sic intelligitur quod oporteat virginem semper actu talem meditationem habere, sed quia hoc debet in proposito gerere, ut perpetuo in hoc perseveret. Id vero quod est materiale, tangitur in obliquo, cum dicitur, incorruptionis in carne corruptibili. Quod additur ad ostendendam virginitatis difficultatem, nam si caro corrumpi non posset, non esset difficile perpetuam incorruptionis meditationem habere.

Ad 2

Ad secundum dicendum quod pudicitia est quidem essentialiter in anima, materialiter autem in carne, et similiter virginitas.

Unde Augustinus dicit, in libro de virginit., quod licet virginitas in carne servetur, ac per hoc corporalis sit, tamen spiritualis est quam vovet et servat continentia pietatis.

Ad 3

Ad tertium dicendum quod, sicut dictum est, integritas corporalis membri per accidens se habet ad virginitatem, inquantum scilicet per hoc quod ex proposito voluntatis abstinet quis a delectatione venerea, remanet integritas in membro corporeo. Unde si contingat quod per alium modum aliquo casu membri integritas corrumpatur, non magis praeiudicat virginitati quam si corrumpatur manus aut pes.

Ad 4

Ad quartum dicendum quod delectatio quae est ex seminis resolutione dupliciter potest contingere. Uno modo, ut procedat ex mentis proposito. Et sic tollit virginitatem, sive fiat per concubitum sive absque concubitu.

Facit autem mentionem Augustinus de concubitu, quia huiusmodi resolutio communiter et naturaliter ex concubitu causatur. Alio modo potest provenire praeter propositum mentis, vel in dormiendo; vel per violentiam illatam, cui mens non consentit, quamvis caro delectationem experiatur; vel etiam ex infirmitate naturae, ut patet in his qui fluxum seminis patiuntur.

Et sic non perditur virginitas, quia talis pollutio non accidit per impudicitiam, quam virginitas excludit.