On the Good of Widowhood

Augustine of Hippo, On the Good of Widowhood. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 3 (Schaff, 1887), public domain.

Passages · 29

On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 1 — Augustin the Bishop, servant of Christ, and of the servants of Christ, unto the religious handmaiden of God, Juliana, in the Lord of lords health. Not any longer to be in debt of my promise to your request and love…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 2 — 2. Whereas, therefore, in every question, which relates to life and conduct, not only teaching, but exhortation also is necessary; in order that by teaching we may know what is to be done, and by exhortation may be…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 3 — 3. Therefore (thus) saith the Apostle, the teacher of the Gentiles, the vessel of election, “But I say unto the unmarried and the widows, that it is good for them, if they shall have so continued, even as I also.”…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 4 — 4. Lo, there is your good compared to that good, which the Apostle calls his own, if faith be present: yea, rather, because faith is present. Short is this teaching, yet not on this account to be despised, because it…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 5 — 5. Wherefore also when he was advising married persons not to defraud one another of the due of carnal intercourse; lest, by this means, the one of them, (the due of marriage being denied to him,) being through his…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 6 — 6. Wherefore this in the first place you ought to know, that by the good, which you have chosen, second marriages are not condemned, but are set in lower honor. For, even as the good of holy virginity, which thy…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 7 — 7. But whereas the Apostle, when commending the fruit of unmarried men and women, in that they have thought of the things of the Lord, how to please God, added and saith, “But this I say for your profit, not to cast…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 8 — 8. Whence, also, what the Apostle Paul said of the unmarried woman, “that she may be holy both in body and spirit;” we are not so to understand, as though a faithful woman being married and chaste, and according to…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 9 — 9. Learn, therefore, that thy good, yea, rather, remember what thou hast learned, that thy good is more praised, because there is another good than which this is better, than if this could not on any other condition…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 10 — 10. Nor, because I called Ruth blessed, Anna more blessed, in that the former married twice, the latter, being soon widowed of her one husband, so lived long, do you straightway also think that you are better than…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 11 — 11. But thou who both hast sons, and livest in that end of the world, wherein now is the time not of casting stones, but of gathering; not of embracing, but of abstaining from embracing; when the Apostle cries out,…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 12 — 12. But since, as the Lord saith, “Not all receive this word;” therefore let her who can receive it, receive it; and let her, who containeth not, marry; let her, who hath not begun, deliberate; let her, who hath…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 13 — 13. Wherefore they who say that the marriages of such are not marriages, but rather adulteries, seem not to me to consider with sufficient acuteness and care what they say; forsooth they, are misled by a semblance of…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 14 — 14. Wherefore I cannot indeed say, of females who have fallen away from a better purpose, in case they shall have married, that they are adulteries, not marriages; but I plainly would not hesitate to say, that…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 15 — 15. Men are wont to move a question concerning a third or fourth marriage, and even more numerous marriages than this. On which to make answer strictly, I dare neither to condemn any marriage, nor to take from these…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 16 — 16. For that also is no foolish question which is wont to be proposed, that whoso can may say, which widow is to be preferred in desert; whether one who hath had one husband, who, after having lived a considerable…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 17 — 17. Let us therefore set before our eyes three widows, each having one of the things, the whole of which were in her: let us suppose one who had had one husband, in whose case is wanting both so great length of…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 18 — 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.…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 19 — 19. These discussions, therefore, concerning the different deserts of married women, and of different widows, I would not in this work enter upon, if, what I am writing unto you, I were writing only for you. But,…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 20 — 20. Wherefore, forasmuch as in the beginning of this little work I had proposed certain two necessary matters, and had undertaken to follow them out; one which related to doctrine, the other to exhortation; and I…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 21 — 21. These things I am compelled to admonish by reason of certain little discourses of some men, that are to be shunned and avoided, which have begun to steal through the ears unto the minds of many, being (as must be…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 22 — 22. Now it has been my wish on this account to say something on this subject, by reason of certain of our brethren most friendly and dear to us, and without willful guilt indeed entangled in this error, but yet…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 23 — 23. If, therefore, you had not as yet vowed unto God widowed continence, we would assuredly exhort you to vow it; but, in that you have already vowed it, we exhort you to persevere. And yet I see that I must so speak…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 24 — 24. Let the inner ear of the virgin also, thy holy child, hear these things. I shall see how far she goes before you in the Kingdom of That King: it is another question. Yet ye have found, mother and daughter, Him,…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 25 — 25. The past day returns not hereafter, and after yesterday proceeds to-day, and after to-day will proceed to-morrow; and, lo, all times and the things of time pass away, that there may come the promise that shall…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 26 — 26. Therefore let spiritual delights succeed to the place of carnal delights in holy chastity; reading, prayer, psalm, good thought, frequency in good works, hope of the world to come, and a heart upward; and for all…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 27 — 27. Indeed in all spiritual delights, which unmarried women enjoy, their holy conversation ought also to be with caution; lest haply, though their life be not evil through haughtiness, their report be evil through…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 28 — 28. Go on therefore in your course, and run with perseverance, in order that ye may obtain; and by pattern of life, and discourse of exhortation, carry away with you into this same your course, whomsoever ye shall…vatican.va
On the Good of Widowhood Chapter 29 — 29. Next I entreat you, by Him, from Whom ye have both received this gift, and hope for the rewards of this gift, that ye be mindful to set me also in your prayers with all your household Church. Forsooth it hath…vatican.va

Scripture cited · 76 verses

Passages · 29

Scripture cited · 76 verses

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