Marriage and Virginity
commandments, and the repentance whereby we do not excuse, but accuse, ourselves of our sins, it is obvious that when this happens, we receive these things as a gift from him and they have their effect with his help. In relation to obedience there is an even clearer statement: The Lord directs the steps of men and women and takes pleasure in their progress (Ps 37:23), while about repentance the apostle says: To see if God will give them repentance (2 Tm 2:25).
43. About celibacy itself has it not been said in the clearest way: And although I knew that no one can be continent unless God grants it, even this too, to know whose gift it is, was also part of wisdom (Wis 8:21)?
God Even Gives the Gift to Know His Gifts
42. Perhaps, however, celibacy is a gift from God, but wisdom, whereby one knows that the gift is not one's own but comes from God, is the human being's own accomplishment. On the contrary, The Lord makes the blind wise (Ps 146:8); and The Lord's words are trustworthy and they give wisdom to the little ones (Ps 19:7); and If anyone is in need of wisdom, let that person ask for it from God, who gives generously to everyone and does not hold back, and it will be granted (Jas 1:5). Virgins, however, should be wise, so as not to let their lamps go out;†54 but how are they to be wise, except by not aspiring to the high places, but being content with the lowly (Rom 12:16)? Wisdom itself said to mankind: Behold, piety is wisdom (Jb 28:28). If, therefore, you have nothing that you have not received, do not be proud but be afraid (Rom 11:12). Then do not love little, as though you have been forgiven little, but love much because you have been given much. If someone loves because of being excused from giving something back, how much more ought someone to love who has been given something to keep? When anyone stays chaste from the beginning, it is God who directs them; and when anyone becomes chaste after being unchaste, it is God who corrects them, and when anyone is unchaste to the end, it is God who rejects them. The way God decides these things may well be mysterious, but it cannot be that it is unjust. Perhaps the reason why it is hidden is to make us more afraid and less proud.
False Humility Is a Worse Form of Pride