On Veiling Virgins

​Having already undergone a personal business regarding my opinion, I shall also demonstrate in Latin that our virgins ought to be veiled from the time they have made the transition of their age: that this is demanded by truth, against which no space of times, no patronage of persons, no privilege of regions can prescribe. For from these elements, custom, having obtained its beginning from some ignorance or simplicity, is usually strengthened into use through succession, and is thus defended against truth. But our Lord Christ called Himself ‘truth,’ not ‘custom.’ If Christ is always, and prior to all, truth is equally an everlasting and ancient thing. Let them, therefore, look to it for whom that is new which is old to themselves. It is not so much novelty as truth that refutes heresies. Whatever tastes against truth, this will be heresy, even an old custom. Moreover, it is by one’s own fault that one is ignorant of anything. But that which is ignored ought to have been as much sought after as that which is acknowledged is received. The rule of faith is indeed entirely one, alone immovable and irreformable, namely, believing in one sole God Almighty, the creator of the world, and His Son Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate, raised from the dead on the third day, received into the heavens, sitting now at the right hand of the Father, about to come to judge the living and the dead through the resurrection also of the flesh. While this law of faith remains, other matters of discipline and conversation now admit the novelty of correction, through the grace of God operating and progressing indeed even unto the end. For what kind of thing is it that, while the devil is always operating and daily adding to the inventions of iniquity, the work of God should have either ceased or stopped progressing? Especially since the Lord sent the Paraclete for this purpose, so that, because human mediocrity could not receive all things at once, discipline might be gradually directed, ordered, and brought to perfection by that vicar of the Lord, the Holy Spirit. ‘I still have,’ He says, ‘many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them yet; when that Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth and will declare to you the things that are to come.’ But He also pronounced above concerning this work of His. What, then, is the administration of the Paraclete except this: that discipline is directed, scriptures are revealed, intellect is reformed, and progress is made toward better things? Nothing is without development, all things await their time. Indeed, Ecclesiastes says, ‘A time for every thing.’ Behold the creation itself being gradually promoted to fruit. It is first a grain, and from the grain a shrub arises, and from the shrub a young tree springs forth; then the branches and foliage grow strong, and the complete name of ‘tree’ is expanded; then comes the swelling of the bud, and the flower is released from the bud, and from the flower the fruit is opened: this also, raw and shapeless for some time, gradually directing its age, is educated into the mildness of flavor. Thus also righteousness (for the God of righteousness and of creation is the same) was at first in rudimentary stages, nature fearing God; thence through the law and the prophets it promoted into infancy; thence through the gospel it effervesced into youth; now through the Paraclete it is settled into maturity. He alone will be the teacher from Christ both to be named and to be revered. For He does not speak from Himself, but what is commanded by Christ. He alone is the predecessor, because He is the only one after Christ. Those who have received Him prefer truth to custom. Those who have listened to Him prophesying continuously, and not just in the past, cover their virgins.