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18. No one indeed of these
six widows could come up to your standard. For you, in case that
you shall have maintained this vow even unto old age, mayest have
all the three things wherein the desert of Anna excelled. For both
thou hast had one husband, and he lived not long with thee in the
flesh; and, by this means, in case that thou shall show forth
obedience to the words of the Apostle, saying, “But she who is a
widow indeed and desolate, hath hoped in the Lord, and persevereth
in prayers night and day,”2261
and with sober watchfulness shall
shun what follows, “But she who passes her time in delights,
living is dead,” all those three goods, which were Anna’s,
shall be thine also. But you have sons also, which haply she had
not. And yet you are not on this account to be praised, that you
have them, but that you are zealous to nurture and educate them
piously. For that they were born to thee, was of fruitfulness; that
they are alive, is of good fortune; that they be so brought up, is
of your will and disposal.2262
In the former let men congratulate
you, in this let them imitate you. Anna, through prophetic
knowledge, recognized Christ with His virgin Mother; thee the grace
of the Gospel hath made the mother of a virgin of Christ. Therefore
that holy virgin,2263
| 2263 Demetrias, whose grandmother was
Proba Faltonia, her mother, Juliana. See S. Aug. Ep. 130. and 150.
Vol. I, pp. 459, 503, sqq. | whom herself willing and seeking
it ye have offered unto Christ, hath added something of virginal
desert also unto the widowed deserts of her grandmother and mother.
For ye who have her, fail not to have something thence; and in her
ye are, what in yourselves ye are not. For that holy virginity
should be taken from you at your marriage, was on this account
brought to pass, in order that she should be born of
you.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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