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

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 teacher of virtue, causes us to abide always in Christ, and to live continually for God, and to attain to the heavenly promises and to the divine rewards. To follow her is wholesome, and to turn away from her and neglect her is deadly. The Holy Spirit says in the Psalms, “Keep discipline, lest perchance the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the right way, when His wrath is quickly kindled against you.”1    Ps. ii. 12. And again: “But unto the ungodly saith God, “Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant into thy mouth?  Whereas thou hatest discipline, and hast cast my words behind thee.”2    Ps. l. 17. And again we read: “He that casteth away discipline is miserable.”3    Wisd. iii. 11. And from Solomon we have received the mandates of wisdom, warning us:  “My son, despise not thou the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth He correcteth.”4    Prov. iii. 11. But if God rebukes whom He loves, and rebukes him for the very purpose of amending him, brethren also, and especially priests, do not hate, but love those whom they rebuke, that they may mend them; since God also before predicted by Jeremiah, and pointed to our times, when he said, “And I will give you shepherds according to my heart: and they shall feed you with the food of discipline.”5    Jer. iii. 15.

0439A I. Disciplina custos spei, retinaculum fidei, dux 0441A itineris salutaris, fomes ac nutrimentum bonae indolis, magistra virtutis, facit in Christo manere semper ac jugiter Deo vivere et ad promissa coelestia et ad divina praemia pervenire. Hanc et sectari salubre est, et aversari ac negligere lethale. In Psalmis loquitur Spiritus sanctus : Continete disciplinam, ne forte irascatur Dominus, et pereatis avia recta,cum exarserit citoira ejus super vos (Psal. II, 12). Et iterum: Peccatori autem dixit Deus. Ad quidexponis justificationes meas, et assumis testamentum meum per os tuum? Tu autem odisti disciplinam et abjecisti sermones meos retro (Psal. XLIX, 16, 17). Et denuo legimus: Disciplinam qui abjicit, infelix est (Sap. III, 11). Et de Salomone mandata Sapientiae monentis accepimus: Fili, ne neglexeris disciplinam Domini, nec defeceris ab eo 0441Bcorreptus; quem enim diligit Deus corripit (Prov. III, 11, 12). Si autem Deus quem diligit corripit et ad hoc corripit ut emendet, fratres quoque, et maxime sacerdotes, non oderunt sed diligunt eos quos corripiunt ut emendent. quando et Deus per Hieremiam ante praedixerit et tempora nostra significaverit dicens: Et dabo vobis pastores secundum cor meum, et pascent vos pascentes cum disciplina (Hier. III, 15).