Two Sexes but Only One Human Nature
The author of the story of our creation teaches us that the Creator formed from the clay a man, formed from the man’s rib a woman and then, starting from the union of the two, filled the earth with their descendants.
God did not create the woman from just any kind of material. He took from the man what he needed to create her. The reason? To prevent the possibility of the woman thinking she had a different nature and taking for that reason a direction opposed to the man’s.
Moreover, God lays down the same rules for the male as for the female, because the difference between them lies in the structure of their bodies, not of their souls.
Woman is endowed with reason on a par with man. She has the ability to think, she knows what she ought to do, she knows as he does what to avoid and what to look for. More than that, sometimes she is better than man at seeing what is useful, and she is a wise adviser.
Finally, because the struggle for sanctity is common to the man and the woman, God offers the same prize to one as he does to the other.
Theodoret
The Cure of Pagan Diseases, 5, 55ff. (SC57, pp.244ff.)
Helps and Hindrances in Human Relations
Ambrose said:
‘To be good in the company of sinners is more praiseworthy than to be good among the good. Not to be good in the company of the good is a grave fault whereas to remain good in the midst of sinners merits great praise.
‘The lives of the saints are the rule of life for others.
‘If we make friends with someone who is holy, then thanks to our contact with him, thanks to his words and example, love for the truth is kindled in us.’
Isidore said:
‘If you keep company with the good, you will share their virtues, since usually like seeks like. Contrariwise, it is risky to resort to the company of the bad whose will is bent towards evil. It is better to earn their hatred than their friendship. Just as sharing the life of the saints brings many advantages, so consorting with evil people produces many miseries.
‘While it is desirable that the good should always live in peace among themselves, it is desirable that evil people should never be in agreement.’
Defensor Grammaticus
Book of Sparkling Sayings, 63 (SC86, pp.194ff.)
~ Thomas Spidlik, Drinking from the Hidden Fountain, A Patristic Breviary: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World
