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E06548: Aldhelm, in his prose On Virginity, names *Thomas (the Apostle, S00199) as an exemplary virgin. Written in Latin in southern Britain, for the nuns at the monastery at Barking (south-east Britain), c. 675/686.
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posted on 2018-09-20, 00:00 authored by bsavillAldhelm, prose On Virginity, 23
Didymus, quondam dominicae resurrectionis incredulus negator, sed visis vulnerum cicatricibus credulus praedicator , qui Eoae tripertitas Indiae provincias sereno evangelicae praedicationis lumine illustravit et execranda sacellorum lustramenta et inepta pontificum flaminia funditus evacuavit, cum pudicos thalami consortes instruens de virginitatis laudibus loqueretur, Habetis, inquit, integritatem, quae est omnium regina virtutum et fructus perpetuae virginitatis. Virginitas soror est angelorum et omnium bonorum possessio, virginitas victoria libidinum, tropeum fidei, victoria de inimicis et vitae aeternae securitas. En, apostolicae clangor bucinae velut tonitruali fragore concrepans devotas virginum mentes ad integritatis cultum cohortatur, dum eam immensis rumorum laudibus prosequitur.
'DIDYMUS [i.e. Thomas], at one time the disbelieving doubter of the Lord's resurrection - but once the scars of Christ's wounds had been seen, (became) its confident preacher – who illumined the tripartite provinces of eastern India with the clear light of evangelical preaching and totally annulled the execrable rites of (pagan) sanctuaries and the empty offices of their priests, when he spoke for the instruction of chaste partners in marriage in the praises of virginity, said: "You have integrity, which is the queen of all virtues and the fruit of perpetual virginity. Virginity is the sister of the angels and the possession of all good things; virginity is victory over desires, the trophy of faith, a triumph over enemies and the surety of eternal life." See how the blast of the apostolic trumpet, blaring as if with the roar of thunder, urges the the devout minds of virgins to the veneration of integrity, when it honours (integrity) with the mighty commendation of renown!'
Text: Ehwald 1919, 255. Translation: Lapidge and Herren 1979, 81.
Didymus, quondam dominicae resurrectionis incredulus negator, sed visis vulnerum cicatricibus credulus praedicator , qui Eoae tripertitas Indiae provincias sereno evangelicae praedicationis lumine illustravit et execranda sacellorum lustramenta et inepta pontificum flaminia funditus evacuavit, cum pudicos thalami consortes instruens de virginitatis laudibus loqueretur, Habetis, inquit, integritatem, quae est omnium regina virtutum et fructus perpetuae virginitatis. Virginitas soror est angelorum et omnium bonorum possessio, virginitas victoria libidinum, tropeum fidei, victoria de inimicis et vitae aeternae securitas. En, apostolicae clangor bucinae velut tonitruali fragore concrepans devotas virginum mentes ad integritatis cultum cohortatur, dum eam immensis rumorum laudibus prosequitur.
'DIDYMUS [i.e. Thomas], at one time the disbelieving doubter of the Lord's resurrection - but once the scars of Christ's wounds had been seen, (became) its confident preacher – who illumined the tripartite provinces of eastern India with the clear light of evangelical preaching and totally annulled the execrable rites of (pagan) sanctuaries and the empty offices of their priests, when he spoke for the instruction of chaste partners in marriage in the praises of virginity, said: "You have integrity, which is the queen of all virtues and the fruit of perpetual virginity. Virginity is the sister of the angels and the possession of all good things; virginity is victory over desires, the trophy of faith, a triumph over enemies and the surety of eternal life." See how the blast of the apostolic trumpet, blaring as if with the roar of thunder, urges the the devout minds of virgins to the veneration of integrity, when it honours (integrity) with the mighty commendation of renown!'
Text: Ehwald 1919, 255. Translation: Lapidge and Herren 1979, 81.