On Veiling Virgins

​In these consists the defense of our opinion according to scripture, according to nature, according to discipline. Scripture establishes the law, nature attests to it, discipline requires it. To which of these does the custom of opinion bring benefit, or what is the pretext of a different view? Scripture is of God, nature is of God, discipline is of God. Whatever is contrary to these is not of God. If scripture is uncertain, nature is manifest, and concerning its testimony scripture cannot be uncertain. If there is doubt about nature, discipline shows what is more approved by God. Nothing is dearer to Him than humility, nothing more acceptable than modesty, nothing more harmful than glory and the desire to please men. Therefore, let that which you find approved by God be to you both scripture and nature and discipline, just as you are commanded to examine all things and follow whatever is better. It remains also that we turn to the virgins themselves, so that they may receive these instructions more willingly. I entreat you, whether mother, or sister, or virgin daughter—I speak according to the names of age—veil your head: if a mother, for the sake of your sons; if a sister, for the sake of your brothers; if a daughter, for the sake of your fathers. All ages are endangered in you. Put on the armor of shame, draw around you the rampart of modesty, build a wall for your sex, which will neither let your own eyes go out nor admit those of others. Fulfill the habit of a woman, so that you may preserve the status of a virgin. Lie somewhat regarding those things which are within, so that you may display the truth to God alone. Although you do not lie that you are married. For you have married Christ; to Him you have delivered your flesh, to Him you have betrothed your maturity. Walk according to the will of your bridegroom. It is Christ who commands both the betrothed of others and the married to be veiled, and surely much more His own.

​But we also admonish you, women of the other chastity, who have entered into marriage, not to fade away so from the discipline of the veil, not even for a moment of an hour, lest, because you cannot reject it, you destroy it in another way, walking neither covered nor bare. For some do not veil their heads with mitres and wool, but tie them, protected indeed from the front, but bare where the head properly is. Others, moderately covered with linens—I believe lest they press their heads—not let down even to their ears, are covered only as far as the brain. I pity them, if they are of such weak hearing that they cannot hear through a covering. Let them know that the whole head is the woman. Its boundaries and limits are extended as far as where the garment begins. As much as let-down hair can occupy, so large is the region of the veil, so that the neck is also encircled. For these are the parts which ought to be subjected, for whose sake authority ought to be had upon the head. The veil is their yoke. The pagan women of Arabia will judge you, who cover not only the head, but also the whole face in such a way that, content with one eye set free, they prefer to enjoy half the light rather than prostitute the whole face. A woman prefers to see rather than be seen. Whom a certain Roman queen called most unhappy because they can love more than they can be loved; whereas they are happy even from the immunity of the other and indeed more frequent unhappiness, because women can more easily be loved than love. And indeed, the modesty of pagan discipline is more unmixed and, so to speak, more barbarian. To us, the Lord has measured the boundaries of the veil even by revelations. For to a certain sister of ours, an angel in a dream, beating her neck as if applauding, said, “Elegant neck, and deservedly bare! It is good that you be uncovered from head to loin, lest this liberty of your neck also fail to benefit you.” And surely what you say to one, you say to all. But what great chastisement will they deserve who remain uncovered during the psalms or in any mention of God, and when they are about to linger in prayer itself, they very easily place a fringe or a tuft of wool or any thread upon their brain and think themselves covered? For so cheap a price do they lie about their head. Others, to whom plainly a hand’s breadth is greater than any fringe and thread, abuse their head no less, like a certain beast rather than a bird, though winged, with a short head, a stretched neck, and otherwise high-stepping. They say that this beast, when it has to hide, thrusts its head alone plainly and entirely into a thicket, and leaves the rest of itself in the open. Thus while it is secure in its head, being bare where it is larger, it is captured entirely with its head. Such will those women also be who are covered less than is useful. It behoves us therefore at all times and in all places to walk mindful of the law, prepared and equipped for every mention of God, who, if He is in the breast, will be recognized also on the head of women. To those who read these things with good peace, preferring utility to custom, let peace and grace overflow from our Lord Jesus, with Septimius Tertullianus, whose pamphlet this is.