Twentieth Century Christians should soak themselves in the Church Fathers. There, already, they will find difficulties they are tempted to think insoluble overcome by utter fidelity to God’s Word. All Christians, even those personally called to different vocations, must think with the Church and find in the Church’s judgment a criterion for their own scales of value.
J.M Perrin OP
I ask, then, what is the meaning of men’s obstinate determination to shut their eyes and to refuse to look on what is as clear as day? I have said that there are diversities of gifts in the Church, and that virginity is one gift and wedlock another. And shortly after I have used the words: I allow marriage also to be a gift of God, but there is a great difference between gift and gift.
St Jerome
The one sufficient way of praising virginity will be to show that that virtue is above praise, and to evince our admiration of it by our lives rather than by our words. A man who takes this theme for ambitious praise has the appearance of supposing that one drop of his own perspiration will make an appreciable increase of the boundless ocean, if indeed he believes, as he does, that any human words can give more dignity to so rare a grace; he must be ignorant either of his own powers or of that which he attempts to praise.
St. Gregory of Nyssa
For whosoever is truly righteous, his works testify concerning his faith, that he is truly a believer, with a faith which is great, a faith which is perfect, a faith which is in God, a faith which shines in good works, that the Father of all may be glorified through Christ. Now, those who are truly virgins for the sake of God give heed to Him who has said, Let not righteousness and faith fail you; bind them on your neck, and you shall find favour for yourself, and devise good things before God and before men
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St Clement
Those who lead a life of chastity possess the sanctifying grace of the Holy Ghost in abundant measure, they will be happy here on earth, and will enjoy special distinction in heaven hereafter.
Fr Francis Spirago
It is not I, but the Son of God Himself, who assures us that the pure and chaste will be like unto the angels in heaven, and at this we need not be astonished if such souls are placed in the rank of angels, souls who have for their spouse, the King and Lord of angels.
St Ambrose
Virginity brings us nearer to God. It seeks for a model in God Himself, says St Ambrose, for the eternal Father is virgin and Father. God also has an extraordinary love and tenderness for pure souls, it is to these, in particular, that He confers or reveals His secrets, or on whom He deigns to bestow his favours.
St Astere
He that can take, let him take it.
Jesus Christ
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