"Concerning Virgins" was one of Ambrose's first published works
after his conversion and consecration as a bishop in 374AD. The essay
purports to be written to his sister Marcellina, who was consecrated as a
virgin in the basilica at
in 352AD, on the anniversary of St.Agnes' martyrdom. Agnes of Rome, legend
has it, was a consecrated virgin who was martyred in 304AD for
her faith as well as for her refusal to be wed to the local prefect Sempronius.
Legends surrounding the manner of her martyrdom include her hair growing
to cover her naked form, being dragged along the street to a whorehouse,
and those who attempted to defile her being blinded or struck dead. The
essay itself is in the form of a panegyric (eulogy) that praises the pious
(1-4): Why Ambrose is authorized and empowered to write on this topic
despite his own failings.
Agnes as a
new kind of double martyr (5-9)
superiority of Christian virgins (10-19)
tradition of holy virginity (10-13)
tradition of pagan (vestal) virginity (14-19)
advantages of virginity (20-31)
downside to married life (23-27)
foolishness of pursuing physical beauty and fashion (28-30)
as immaculate virgin
the concerns of parents (32-34)
superiority of virginity (35-45)
virginal beauty (35-36)
ruling queen and spouse (37-38)
of their garments (39)
unstained bee (40-42)
flower of the field (43-44)
garden enclosed (45)
to stay a signet of the Lord (46-51)
chastity of angels (52-53)
and dowries (54-64)
of possessions (54-55)
of parents trying to prevent their daughters (56-58)
praise and renown for the family (59-61)
repay for the sacrifice (62-64)
example (65)--"Young girls, you see the reward of devotion. Parents
be warned by the example of obstruction."
virginity commendable? Under what circumstances?
virginity beautiful? How so?
virginity superior to marriage? Why or why not?
Can one be
espoused to Jesus? What would it entail?
Do you find
any of Ambrose's reasons convincing? Why or why not?