§1.7Nobis continentia ad instrumentum aeternitatis demonstrata est a domino salutis, ad testimonium fidei, ad commendationem carnis istius exhibendae superventuro indumento incorruptibilitatis, ad sustinendam novissime voluntatem dei.
Continence has been demonstrated to us by the Lord of salvation as an instrument of eternity, for a testimony of faith, for a commendation of this flesh of ours to be presented with the supervening garment of incorruptibility, and lastly to sustain the will of God.
Super haec enim recogites, moneo, neminem non ex dei voluntate de saeculo educi, si ne folium quidem ex arbore sine dei voluntate delabitur.
For besides these things, I advise you to reflect that no one is brought out of the world except by the will of God, if indeed not even a leaf falls from a tree without the will of God.
Idem qui nos mundo infert, idem et educat necesse est.
It is necessary that the same one who brings us into the world should also bring us out.
Igitur defuncto per dei voluntatem viro etiam matrimonium dei voluntate defungitur.
Therefore, when a husband has died through the will of God, the marriage also dies by the will of God.
Quid tu restaures cui finem deus posuit? Quid libertatem oblatam tibi iterata matrimonii servitute fastidis? Obligatus es, inquit, matrimonio, ne quaesieris solutionem: solutus es matrimonio, ne quaesieris obligationem. Nam etsi non delinquas renubendo, carnis tamen pressuram subsequi dicit.
Why do you restore what God has brought to an end? Why do you reject the freedom offered to you by a repeated servitude of marriage? "Are you bound," he says, "to a marriage? Do not seek release. Are you released from a marriage? Do not seek a bond." For even if you do not sin by marrying again, he says that a pressure of the flesh nevertheless follows.
Quare facultatem continentiae, quantum possumus, diligamus, quam primum obvenerit, inbibamus, ut quod in matrimonio non valuimus, in viduitate sectemur.
Therefore, let us love the opportunity of continence as much as we can, let us drink it in as soon as it comes, so that what we were not able to do in marriage, we may pursue in widowhood.
Amplectenda occasio est quae adimit quod necessitas imperabat.
We must embrace the opportunity which takes away what necessity used to command.
Quantum detrahant fidei, quantum obstrepant sanctitati nuptiae secundae, disciplina ecclesiae et praescriptio apostoli declarat, cum digamos non sinit praesidere, cum viduam adlegi in ordinem nisi univiram non concedat.
How much second marriages detract from faith, how much they obstruct holiness, the discipline of the church and the prescription of the apostle declare, since he does not allow those who have married twice to preside, and since he does not permit a widow to be chosen into the order unless she has had only one husband.
Aram enim dei mundam proponi oportet.
For the altar of God must be presented clean.
Tota illa ecclesiae candida de sanctitate describitur.
All that white assembly of the church is described on the basis of holiness.
Sacerdotium viduitatis et caelibatum est apud nationes. Pro diaboli scilicet aemulatione.
The priesthood of widowhood and celibacy exist also among the pagans, surely because of the devil's rivalry.
Regem saeculi, Pontificem Maximum, rursus nubere nefas est.
It is unlawful for the king of the world, the Pontifex Maximus, to marry again.
Quantum deo sanctitas placet, cum illam etiam inimicus affectat? non utique ut alicuius boni affinis, sed ut dei domini placita cum contumelia affectans.
How much holiness pleases God, since even the enemy affects it—not indeed as one sharing in any good, but as affecting with insult the things pleasing to the Lord God.
§1.8Nam de viduitatis honoribus apud deum uno dicto eius per prophetam expeditum est: Iuste facito viduae et pupillo, et venite nite disputemus, dicit dominus. Duo ista nomina, in quantum destituta auxilio humano, in tantum divinae misericordiae exposita, suscipit tueri pater omnium.
For concerning the honors of widowhood in the sight of God, it has been settled by a single word of His through the prophet: "Do justice to the widow and the orphan, and come, let us reason together, says the Lord." These two names, in proportion as they are destitute of human aid, so much are they exposed to divine mercy, and the Father of all undertakes to protect them.
Vide, quam ex aequo habetur qui viduae benefecerit, quanti est vidua ipsa, cuius assertor cum domino disputabit! Non tantum virginibus datum, opinor.
See how equally he who does good to a widow is regarded, of how great value is the widow herself, whose defender will reason with the Lord! This has not been given so much to virgins, I think.
Licet in illis integritas solida et tota sanctitas de proximo visura sit faciem dei, tamen vidua habet aliquid operosius, quia facile est non appetere quod nescias et aversari quod desideres nunquam.
Although in them solid integrity and entire holiness are to see the face of God from close at hand, yet the widow has something more laborious, because it is easy not to desire what you do not know, and to turn away from what you have never longed for.
Gloriosior continentia quae ius suum sentit, quae quid viderit novit.
More glorious is the continence which feels its own right, which knows what it has seen.
Poterit virgo felicior haberi, at vidua laboriosior: illa, quod bonum semper habuit, ista, quod bonum sibi invenit; in illa gratia, in ista virtus coronatur.
A virgin may be held happier, but a widow more laborious: the former for the good she has always possessed, the latter for the good she has found for herself; in the former grace is crowned, in the latter virtue.
Quaedam enim sunt divinae liberalitatis, quaedam nostrae operationis.
For some things belong to divine liberality, some to our own operation.
Quae a domino indulgentur, sua gratia gubernantur; quae ab homine captantur, studio perpetrantur.
The things which are granted by the Lord are governed by His grace; the things which are sought by man are accomplished by study.
Stude igitur ad virtutem continentiae, quae pudori procurat, sedulitati, quae vagas non facit, frugalitati, quae saeculum spernit.
Strive therefore for the virtue of continence, which cares for modesty, for diligence, which does not make women wander, for frugality, which despises the world.
Convictus atque colloquia deo digna sectare, memor illius versiculi sanctificati per apostolum: Bonos corrumpunt mores congressus mali. Loquaces, otiosae, vinosae, curiosae contubernales vel maxime proposito viduitatis officiunt.
Pursue association and conversations worthy of God, mindful of that verse sanctified by the apostle: "Evil communications corrupt good manners." Talkative, idle, wine-loving, curious companions obstruct most of all the purpose of widowhood.
Per loquacitatem irrepunt verba pudoris inimica, per otium a severitate deducunt, per vinolentiam quidvis mali insinuant, per curiositatem aemulationem libidinis convehunt.
Through talkativeness creep in words hostile to modesty, through idleness they lead away from severity, through wine-drinking they insinuate any evil whatsoever, through curiosity they bring in a rivalry of lust.
Nulla huiusmodi feminarum de bono univiratus loqui novit.
None of this kind of women knows how to speak of the good of being married only once.
Deus enim illis, ut sit apostolus, venter est, ita et quae ventri propinqua.
For their god, as the apostle says, is their belly, and so also those things which are near the belly.
Haec tibi iam hinc commendo, conserva carissima, post apostolum quidem ex abundanti pertractata, sed tibi etiam solatio futura, quod meam memoriam, si ita evenerit, in illis frequentabis.
These things I commend to you from this moment, my dearest helpmate—treated indeed abundantly after the apostle, but destined to be also a consolation to you, because you will frequent my memory in them, if it should so happen.