Choosing an angel’s life; Angels: Day 273

St. Augustine writes to express his joy at hearing that the daughter of an illustrious family has chosen to become a nun. It’s a glorious thing to be the mother of  an extensive family, he says, but even more glorious to belong completely to Christ.

Who can declare in words, or expound with adequate praises, how in- comparably greater is the glory and advantage gained by your family in giving to Christ women consecrated to his service, than in giving to the world men called to the honors of the consulship? For if it be a great and noble thing to leave the mark of an honored lady upon the revolving ages of this world, how much greater and nobler is it to rise above it by unsullied chastity both of heart and of body!

Let this maiden, therefore, illustrious in her pedigree, yet more illustrious in her piety, find greater joy in obtaining, through espousals to her divine Lord, a preeminent glory in Heaven, than she could have had in becoming, through es- pousal to a human consort, the mother of a line of illustrious men. This daughter of the house of Anicius has acted the more magnanimous part, in choosing rather to bring a blessing on that noble family by forbearing from marriage, than to in- crease the number of its descendants, preferring to be already like the angels in the purity of her body, rather than to increase by the fruit of her body the number of mortals.

Let the virgins who covet the glory of the Anician family be ambitious rather to emulate its piety; for the glory lies beyond their reach, however eagerly they may desire it, but the piety will be in their possession at once if they seek it with full desire. –St. Augustine, Letter 150

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

How could I give more support to young women today who choose to live an angel’s life?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, hear my prayer for all who choose the life of the angels—the life of virginity, celibacy, and service to you.

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