Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Vol 6) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence the work of Methodius by beginning 'The banquet of the ten virgins' and reading Discourses I to IV.
My summary
Today we finish hearing about the virtue of virginity.
The virgins give arguments from:
(i) the tabernacle;
(ii) the parable of Jotham in Judges;
(iii) the vision of Zechariah in Zechariah 4.
A song is then sung, followed by a dialogue of the benefits of chastity.
What grabbed me
Some more unhelpful teaching again today.
For example: 'For come, fair virgins, consider the Scripture itself, and its commands, how the Divine word has assumed chastity to be the crown of those virtues and duties that have been mentioned, showing how becoming and desirable it is for the resurrection, and that without it no one will obtain the promises which we who profess virginity supremely cultivate and offer to the Lord. They also possess it who live chastely with their wives, and do, as it were about the trunk, yield its lowly branches bearing chastity, not being able like us to reach its lofty and mighty boughs, or even to touch them; yet they, too, offer no less truly, although in a less degree, the branches of chastity. But those who are goaded on by their lusts, although they do not commit fornication, yet who, even in the things which are permitted with a lawful wife, through the heat of unsubdued concupiscence are excessive in embraces, how shall they celebrate the feast? how shall they rejoice, who have not adorned their tabernacle, that is their flesh, with the boughs of the Agnos, nor have listened to that which has been said, that "they that have wives be as though they had none?"
It's starting to sound like you're not a real Christian if you're not a virgin!
Next week's reading
Read 'Concerning free-will'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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