19 July 2020

The Douai Catechism, 1649 - CHAPTER X. The Second Counsel

The Second Counsel.
   
 Q. WHAT is the second counsel?
    A. Perpetual chastity; which is a voluntary abstaining from marriage, and all carnal pleasures, for the love of God.
    
Q. Is this also a work of perfection?
    A. It is, for Christ himself was born of a virgin, and counselled virginity, though he commanded it not.
    
Q. How prove you that?
    A. Out of Matt. xix. 12. "There be eunuchs, (said he,) which have made themselves so for the kingdom of heaven; he that can take let him take."
    
Q. How prove you that virginity is a more prefect state than marriage, or that it is lawful to vow virginity?
    A. Out of 1 Cor. vii. 37, 38. "He that hath determined in his heart, being settled, not having any necessity, but having power of his own will to keep his virgin, doth well; therefore he that joineth his virgin in marriage doth well, but he that joineth her not, doth better"
    
Q. What other proof have you?
    A. Out of 1 Tim. v. 5. "But she that is a widow indeed, (that is, a vowed widow,) and desolate, let her hope in God, and continue in prayer and supplications night and day." And ver. 11, 12. "But the younger widows avoid, for they, when they shall be wanton in Christ, will marry, having damnation, because they have made void their first faith, that is, their vow of chastity, according to the fourth council of Carthage, Canon 104, and all the Fathers."
    
Q. Who was the first that taught marriage to be better than virginity, and persuaded priests and nuns to marry?
    A. Jovinian, an old condemned Heretic, according to St. Augustin, in his book Heresies, Her. 82, and in his 2d book of Retractions, he calls him a monster for it, and saith the church stoutly resisted him, chap. 22.

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