See this online ebook:
- Of Holy Virginity [De Virginitate], by St. Augustine, translated by Rev. C. I. Cornish, M.A., of Exeter College. In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 3, edited by Philip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887). The text, as revised and edited by Kevin Knight, may be read online (here) at New Advent’s Church Fathers library, and at the Logos Virtual Library. The text as printed may be read at Christian Classics Ethereal Library and at WikiSource.
One may also see the following related works, the links to most of which were previously posted on the Project:
- Concerning Virginity, by Saint Ambrose of Milan, translated by H. de Romestin, E. de Romestin and H.T.F. Duckworth, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 10, edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1896.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. May be read online at New Advent: Book I, Book II, Book III. Available in PDF format atSaints’ Books. (See also the brief comments on this work by Sponsa Christi.)
- Draft of a Dogmatic Constitution on Chastity, Marriage, the Family, and Virginity, by the Preparatory Theological Commission for the Second Vatican Council, translated by Fr. Joseph A. Komonchak (2012). Available in pdf format (on this page) at In Verbo Veritatis.
- Encyclical “Sacra Virginitas” on Consecrated Virginity, by the Venerable Pope Pius XII, 25 March 1954. May be read online at the Holy See and Papal Encyclicals.net. With an explanation in relation to priestly celibacy at EWTN Library.
- On Virginity, by St. Gregory of Nyssa (about 370 AD), translated by William Moore and Henry Austin Wilson, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 5, edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1893). (A) The audiobook, read by Geremia, is available at Internet Archive and LibriVox. (B) The text, as revised and edited by Kevin Knight, may be read online (here) at New Advent’s Church Fathers library. The text as printed may be read at WikiSource and at Elpenor.
- Sponsa Verbi: The Virgin Consecrated to Christ: Spiritual Conferences, by Blessed Columba Marmion, O.S.B., translated from the French by Dom. Francis Izard, O.S.B. With 1925 Imprimatur. May be read online (on this page) at Liturgia Latina. Available in PDF format through this page of Consecrated Virginity: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5. Also available in PDF format through this page (which is possibly a mirror of Consecrated Virginity): Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5.
On the Feast of Saint Agatha, and in advance of the Feast of Dorothea of Caesarea, in the Roman Rite. For more legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).
“To the unmarried, and to the widows, I would say that they will do well to remain in the same state as myself, but if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry…
“I would have you free from concern. He who is unmarried is concerned with God’s claim, asking how he is to please God; whereas the married man is concerned with the world’s claim, asking how he is to please his wife; and thus he is at issue with himself. So a woman who is free of wedlock, or a virgin, is concerned with the Lord’s claim, intent on holiness, bodily and spiritual; whereas the married woman is concerned with the world’s claim, asking how she is to please her husband… I am thinking of what is suitable for you, and how you may best attend on the Lord without distraction…
“Thus, a man is well advised to give his ward in marriage, and still better advised not to give her in marriage.” (I Corinthians vii, 8-9, 32-35, 38)
“If any one saith, that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony; let him be anathema.” (Council of Trent, Session XXIV, canon x)