Vigils Reading

From a reading by

ST AMBROSE

◊◊◊

What is virginal chastity but purity free from stain. And whom can we

judge to be its author but the immaculate Son of God, whose flesh saw no

corruption, whose Godhead experienced no infection? Consider, then, how

great are the merits of virginity. Christ was before the Virgin, Christ was of the

Virgin. Begotten indeed of the Father before the ages, but born of the Virgin for

the ages. The former was of His won nature, the latter is for our benefit. The

former always was, the latter He willed.

Consider, too, another merit of virginity. Christ is the spouse of the

Virgin, and if one may so say “spouse” of virginal chastity, for virginity is of

Christ, not Christ of virginity. He is, then, the Virgin who was espoused, the

Virgin who bore us, who fed us with her milk, of whom we read: “What great

things has the virgin of Jerusalem done! The breasts shall not fail from the rock,

nor snow from Lebanon, nor the water which is borne by the strong wind.”

Who is this virgin that is watered with the streams of the Trinity, from

whose rock waters flow, whose breasts fail not, and whose honey is poured

forth? Now, according to the Apostle, the rock is Christ. Therefore, from Christ

the breasts fail not, nor brightness from God, nor the river from the Spirit. This

is the Trinity which waters their Church, the Father, Christ, and the Spirit.

But let us now come down from the mother to the daughters. “Concerning

virgins,” says the Apostle, “I have no commandment of the Lord.” If the teacher

of the Gentiles had none, who could have one? And in truth he had no

commandment, but he had an example. For virginity cannot be commanded,

but must be wished for, for things which are above us are matters for prayer

rather than under mastery. “But I would have you,” he says, “be without care.

For he who is without a wife is careful for the things which are the Lord’s, how he

may please God… And the virgin takes thought for the things of the Lord, that

she may be holy in body and in spirit. For she that is married takes thought for

the things of the world, how she may please her husband.”

I am not indeed discouraging marriage, but am enlarging upon the

benefits of virginity.