Communis status coniugii Deo placet, viduitas inuenit graciam sed virginitas perfectissima est.
The Degrees of Holy Living
Christ affirms that while marriage and widowhood are pleasing to God, the state of virginity represents a higher, angelic perfection.
Christ says: "A commendable life in marriage is acceptable to me." For Moses, the leader of my people, was pleasing to me, even though he was married. In the same way, Peter was called to the apostolate while he had a wife, and in this he pleased me, because one must ascend from simpler things to more perfect ones, and a carnal people had to be instructed by signs and works in order to grasp spiritual realities. In the same way, Judith found grace in my sight because of her widowhood and the goodness of that state, and through her self-control, she earned deliverance for her people. John, however, to whose care I entrusted my mother, didn't displease me because he was a virgin; in fact, he pleased me greatly, because it's a most perfect life to live in the flesh without living carnally, and to be like the life of the angels.
The Priority of Humility
God clarifies that the interior disposition of humility and contrition is ultimately more valuable than the external state of life.
That is why she deserved to become a guardian of chastity, and why special signs of love were shown to her. I say the same thing now. This lady’s widowhood pleases me more than marriage, because a humble widow is more acceptable to me than a proud virgin. Magdalene gained more through her humility and tears than she would have if she had followed her own will.
Read the original Latin
Christus loquitur: "Communis laudabilis status acceptus est michi. Nam Moyses ductor populi mei placuit michi, quamuis vxoratus fuit.
Sic et Petrus viuente vxore vocatus est ad apostolatum et in hoc placuit michi, quia a leuioribus ascendendum est ad perfecciora, populusque carnalis erudiendus fuit signis et operibus ad spiritualia percipienda.
Sic eciam Iudith propter viduitatem et propter bonum viduitatis inuenit graciam in conspectu meo meruitque populo suo propter continenciam liberacionem.
Iohannes vero, cuius custodie commisi matrem meam, non displicuit michi, quia virgo fuit, ymmo summe placuit, quia perfectissima vita est in carne non carnaliter viuere similisque vite angelice.
Ideo et meruit custos fieri castitatis, et ei specialia signa ostendi caritatis. Sic eciam dico nunc. Viduitas huius domine plus placet michi quam coniugium, quia accepcior est michi vidua humilis quam virgo superba.
Et plus meruit Magdalena in humilitate et lacrimis, quam si fuisset in propria voluntate."
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