Chapter
XII.—Virgins are Called to the Imitation of the Church in the
Wilderness Overcoming the Dragon.
The Church, then, coming hither into this
wilderness, a place unproductive of evils, is nourished, flying on the
heavenward wings of virginity, which the Word called the “wings
of great eagle,”2742
having conquered the serpent, and
driven away from her full moon the wintry clouds. It is for the
sake of these things, meanwhile, that all these discourses are held,
teaching us, O fair virgins, to imitate according to our strength our
mother, and not to be troubled by the pains and changes and afflictions
of life, that you may enter in exulting with her into the
bride-chamber, showing your lamps. Do not, therefore, lose
courage on account of the schemes and slanders of the beast, but
bravely prepare for the battle, armed with the helmet of
salvation,2743
and the
breastplate, and the greaves. For you will bring upon him an
immense consternation when you attack him with great advantage and
courage; nor will he at all resist, seeing his adversaries set in array
by One more powerful; but the many-headed and many-faced beast will
immediately allow you to carry off the spoils of the seven
contests:—
“Lion in front, but dragon all behind,
And in the midst a she-goat breathing forth
Profuse the violence of flaming fire.
Her slew Bellerophon in truth. And this
Slew Christ the King; for many she destroyed,
Nor could they bear the fetid foam which burst
From out the fountain of her horrid
jaws;”2744
unless Christ had first weakened and overcome her, making her powerless and contemptible
before us.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
