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| Chapter II. The precepts of the Apostle concerning a widow indeed are laid down, such as, that she bring up children, attend to her parents, desire to please God, show herself irreproachable, set forth a ripeness of merits, have been the wife of one man. St. Ambrose notes, however, that a second marriage was not condemned by St. Paul, and adds that widows must have a good report for virtue with all. The reasons why younger widows are to be avoided, and what is meant by its being better to marry than to burn. St. Ambrose then goes on to speak of the dignity of widows, shown by the fact that any injury done to them is visited by the anger of God.
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Chapter II.
The precepts of the Apostle concerning a widow indeed
are laid down, such as, that she bring up children, attend to her
parents, desire to please God, show herself irreproachable, set forth a
ripeness of merits, have been the wife of one man. St. Ambrose
notes, however, that a second marriage was not condemned by St. Paul,
and adds that widows must have a good report for virtue with all.
The reasons why younger widows are to be avoided, and what is meant by
its being better to marry than to burn. St. Ambrose then goes on
to speak of the dignity of widows, shown by the fact that any injury
done to them is visited by the anger of God.
7. So, then, a
widow is not only marked off by bodily abstinence, but is distinguished
by virtue, to whom I do not give commandments, but the Apostle. I
am not the only person to do them honour, but the Doctor of the
Gentiles did so first, when he said: “Honour widows that
are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let
her first learn to govern her own house, and to requite her
parents.”3309
Whence we
observe that each inclination of affection ought to exist in a widow,
to love her children and to do her duty to her parents. So when
discharging her duty to her parents she is teaching her children, and
is rewarded herself by her own compliance with duty, in that what she
performs for others benefits herself.
8. “For this,” says he,
“is acceptable with God.”3310
So that if thou, O widow, carest
for the things of God, thou oughtest to follow after that which thou
hast learnt to be well pleasing to God. And, indeed, the Apostle
somewhat farther back,3311
exhorting
widows to the pursuit of continence, said that they mind the things of
the Lord. But elsewhere, when a widow who is approved is to be
selected, she is bidden not only to bear in mind but also to hope in
the Lord: “For she that is a widow indeed,” it is
said, “and desolate, must hope in God, and be instant in
supplications and prayers night and day.”3312
And not without reason does he
show that these ought to be blameless, to whom, as virtuous works are
enjoined, so, too, great respect is paid, so that they are honoured
even by bishops.
9. And of what kind she ought to be who is
chosen the description is given in the words of the teacher
himself: “Not less than threescore years old, having been
the wife of one man.”3313
Not
that old age alone makes the widow,3314
| 3314 The rule of
St. Paul as to age was not always strictly observed after early days,
though probably so in the experience of St. Ambrose, though the
Benedictine Editors think that he did not uphold the restriction, but
it is spoken of in the Exhort. Virginitatis, § 25, where
Juliana of Bononia speaks of herself as “adhuc immaturam
viduitatis stipendiis,” not yet old enough to receive
widow’s pay. See Dict. Chr Antiq., art.
Widows. | but that
the merits of the widow are the duties of old age. For she
certainly is the more noble who represses the heat of youth, and the
impetuous ardour of youthful age, desiring neither the tenderness of a
husband, nor the abundant delights of children, rather than one who,
now worn out in body, cold in age, of ripe years, can neither grow warm
with pleasures, nor hope for offspring.
10. Nor in truth is any one excluded from the
devotion of widowhood, if after entering upon a second marriage, which
the precepts of the Apostle certainly do not condemn as
though the fruit of chastity were lost, if she
be again loosed from her husband. She will have, indeed, the
merit of her chastity, even if it be tardy, but she will be more
approved who has tried a second marriage, for the desire of chastity is
conspicuous in her, for the other old age or shame seems to have put an
end to marrying.
11. Nor yet is bodily chastity alone the
strong purpose of the widow, but a large and most abundant exercise of
virtue. “Well reported of for good works, if she have
brought up children; if she have lodged strangers; if she have washed
the saints’ feet; if she have ministered to those suffering
tribulation; if, lastly, she have followed after every good
work.”3315
You see
how many practices of virtue he has included. He demands, first
of all, the duty of piety; secondly, the practice of hospitality and
humble service; thirdly, the ministry of mercy and liberality in
assisting; and, lastly, the performance of every good work.
12. And he, therefore, that the younger
should be avoided,3316
because they
are not able to fulfil the requirements of so high a degree of
virtue. For youth is prone to fall because the heat of various
desires is inflamed by the warmth of glowing youth, and it is the part
of a good doctor to keep off the materials of sin. For the first
exercise in training the soul is to turn away sin, the second to
implant virtue. Yet, since the Apostle knew that Anna, the widow
of fourscore years, from her youth was a herald of the works of the
Lord, I do not think that he thought that the younger should be
excluded from the devotion of widowhood, especially as he said:
“It is better to marry than to burn.”3317
For certainly he recommended
marriage as a remedy, that she who would else perish might be saved; he
did not prescribe the choice that one who could contain should not
follow chastity, for it is one thing to succour one who is falling,
another to persuade to virtue.
13. And what shall I say of human judgments,
since in the judgments of God the Jews are set forth as having offended
the Lord in nothing more than violating what was due to the widow and
the rights of minors? This is proclaimed by the voices of the
prophets as the cause which brought upon the Jews the penalty of
rejection. This is mentioned as the only cause which will
mitigate the wrath of God against their sin, if they honour the widow,
and execute true judgment for minors, for thus we read:
“Judge the fatherless, deal justly with the widow, and come let
us reason together, saith the Lord.”3318
And elsewhere: “The
Lord shall maintain the orphan and the widow.”3319
And again: “I will
abundantly bless her widow.”3320
Wherein also the likeness of the Church is foreshadowed. You see,
then, holy widows, that that office which is honoured by the assistance
of divine grace must not be degraded by impure
desire.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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