Traduction Masquer
De la conduite des vierges

X.

Vous vous vantez de votre richesse et de votre opulence; vous croyez devoir user des biens que Dieu a mis en votre possession. Soit, usez-en, mais pour des choses utiles; usez-en, mais pour de bonnes oeuvres; usez-en, mais pour ce que Dieu prescrit, pour ce que Dieu recommande. Que les pauvres se ressentent de vos richesses, que les indigents partagent votre fortune. Déposez votre patrimoine entre les mains de Dieu; nourrissez le Christ; obtenez par les prières des pauvres de porter bien haut la gloire de la virginité et de mériter la céleste récompense. Placez vos trésors dans ce lieu où on n’a pas à craindre ni les ruses ni les violences des voleurs. Ayez des possessions, mais dans le Ciel : là vos récoltes dureront toujours; elles seront à l’abri des atteintes des fléaux du siècle; elles échapperont à l’action de la rouille, aux ravages de la grêle, aux ardeurs du soleil, â la corruption des pluies.

Traduction Masquer
On the Dress of Virgins

10.

You say that you are wealthy and rich; but it becomes not a virgin to boast of her riches, since Holy Scripture says, "What hath pride profited us? or what benefit hath the vaunting of riches conferred upon us? And all these things have passed away like a shadow." ¹ And the apostle again warns us, and says, "And they that buy, as though they bought not; and they that possess, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as though they used it not. For the fashion of this world passeth away." ² Peter also, to whom the Lord commends His sheep to be fed and guarded, on whom He placed and founded the Church, says indeed that he has no silver and gold, but says that he is rich in the grace of Christ--that he is wealthy in his faith and virtue--wherewith he performed many great works with miracle, wherewith he abounded in spiritual blessings to the grace of glory. These riches, this wealth, she cannot possess, who had rather be rich to this world than to Christ.