On the Dress of Virgins 23–24

The first sentence commanded us to increase and multiply; the second counseled continence as well. While the world was still rough and empty, we propagated ourselves by fruitfulness, producing abundance, and increased for the growth of the human race; now that the earth is full and the world entices, those who can receive continence, living in the manner of eunuchs, are castrated for the kingdom. The Lord does not command this but encourages it; he does not impose the yoke of necessity, since the choice of the will remains free. But when he says there are many dwellings with his Father, he shows lodgings of a better dwelling. You seek those better dwellings; castrating the desires of the flesh, you obtain the reward of a greater grace in the heavenly places. All, indeed, who come to the divine and paternal gift by the sanctification of baptism put off the old man there by the grace of the saving washing, and, renewed by the Holy Spirit, are cleansed from the filth of the old contagion by a second birth. But to you belongs a greater holiness and truth of the second birth, since you no longer have any desires of the flesh and body. Only the things of virtue and of the spirit remain in you for glory. It is the voice of the apostle, whom the Lord called his vessel of election, whom God sent to proclaim the heavenly commands: “The first man,” he says, “is from the clay of the earth, the second from heaven. As was the one from clay, such also are those from clay; and as is the heavenly, such also are the heavenly. As we have borne the image of him who is from clay, let us also bear the image of him who is from heaven.” This image virginity bears, integrity bears, holiness and truth bear; those bear it who are mindful of God's discipline, holding to righteousness with religion, steadfast in faith, humble in fear, strong for all endurance, gentle in bearing injury, ready in showing mercy, of one mind and harmonious in brotherly peace.

All these things, good virgins, you ought to observe, love, and fulfill, you who, devoted to God and Christ, go before us to the Lord, to whom you have dedicated yourselves, as the greater and better part. You who are advanced in years, be teachers to the younger; you who are younger, give encouragement to your equals. Rouse one another with mutual exhortations; call one another to glory by rival examples of virtue. Endure bravely, go forward spiritually, arrive happily. Only remember us then, when virginity begins to be honored in you.