J.M.J. "The first thing which kindles
ardor in learning is the greatness of the teacher. What is greater than the Mother
of God? What more glorious
than she whom Glory Itself chose? What more chaste than she who bore a body
without contact with another body? For why should I speak of her other virtues?
She was a virgin not only in body but also in mind,
who stained the sincerity of its disposition by no guile, who was humble
in heart, grave in speech, prudent in mind,
sparing of words, studious in reading, resting her hope not on uncertain
riches, but on the prayer of the poor,
intent on work, modest in discourse; wont to seek not man but God as the judge
of her thoughts, to injure no one, to have goodwill towards all, to rise up
before her elders, not to envy her equals, to avoid boastfulness, to
follow reason, to love virtue.
When did she pain her parents even by a look? When did she
disagree with her neighbors? When did she despise the lowly? When did she
avoid the needy? Being wont only to go to such gatherings of men as mercy would
not blush at, nor modesty pass by. There was nothing gloomy in her eyes,
nothing forward in her words, nothing unseemly in her acts, there was not a
silly movement, nor unrestrained step, nor was her voice petulant, that the
very appearance of her outward being might be the image of her soul,
the representation of what is approved. For a well-ordered house ought to be
recognized on the very threshold, and should show at the very first entrance
that no darkness is hidden within, as our soul
hindered by no restraints of the body may shine abroad like a lamp placed
within."
--Saint Ambrose, On Virgins, II, 2, 7
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