Letter 50117: Augustine and Alypius to a group of women, greetings in the Lord.

Augustine and Alypius to a group of women, greetings in the Lord. We have heard from reliable sources that a dispute has arisen among you over the question of marriage and virginity — specifically, over whether those who have chosen the celibate life are spiritually superior to those who are married. Let us settle this quickly. Both states are gifts of God. Marriage is good. Virginity dedicated to God is better — the Lord himself said so, and Paul confirmed it [1 Corinthians 7:38]. But "better" does not mean "the only good." Gold is better than silver, but silver is not worthless. A married woman who is faithful, charitable, devout, and humble stands higher in God's estimation than a virgin who is proud, lazy, and cruel. The virgin who despises the married woman has lost the very humility that makes her virginity valuable. And the married woman who envies the virgin has forgotten the gift she herself received. Each must live her calling fully, without contempt for the other's calling. The enemy delights when he can turn God's gifts into occasions for rivalry. Do not give him the satisfaction. Farewell, dear sisters.

Letter 117 (A.D. 410) Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... From Dioscorus to Augustine. To you, who esteem the substance, not the style of expression, as important, any formal preamble to this letter would be not only unnecessary, but irksome. Therefore, without further preface, I beg your attention. The aged Alypius had often promised, in answer to my request, that he would, with your help, furnish a reply to a very few brief questions of mine in regard to the Dialogues of Cicero; and as he is said to be at present in Mauritania, I ask and earnestly entreat you to condescend to give, without his assistance, those answers which, even had your brother been present, it would doubtless have fallen to you to furnish. What I require is not money, it is not gold; though, if you possessed these, you would, I am sure, be willing to give them to me for any fit object. This request of mine you can grant without effort, by merely speaking. I might importune you at a greater length, and through many of your dear friends; but I know your disposition, that you do not desire to be solicited, but show kindness readily to all, if only there be nothing improper in the thing requested: and there is absolutely nothing improper in what I ask. Be this, however, as it may, I beg you to do me this kindness, for I am on the point of embarking on a voyage. You know how very painful it is to me to be burdensome to any one, and much more to one of your frank disposition; but God alone knows how irresistible is the pressure of the necessity under which I have made this application. For, taking leave of you, and committing myself to divine protection, I am about to undertake a voyage; and you know the ways of men, how prone they are to censure, and you see how any one will be regarded as illiterate and stupid who, when questions are addressed to him, can return no answer. Therefore, I implore you, answer all my queries without delay. Send me not away downcast. I ask this that so I may see my parents; for on this one errand I have sent Cerdo to you, and I now delay only till he return. My brother Zenobius has been appointed imperial remembrancer, and has sent me a free pass for my journey, with provisions. If I am not worthy of your reply, let at least the fear of my forfeiting these provisions by delay move you to give answers to my little questions. May the most high God spare you long to us in health! Papas salutes your excellency most cordially.