On the Veiling of Virgins

NO: true and absolute and pure virginity fears nothing more than itself. It shrinks even from encountering women's eyes. It has eyes of its own. It takes refuge in the veil of the head as in a helmet, as in a shield, to protect its glory against the blows of temptations, against the dam of scandals, against suspicions and whispers and emulation, and even against envy itself. For there is something, even among the heathens, to be apprehended, which they call Fascination, the too unhappy result of excessive praise and glory. We sometimes interpretively ascribe this to the devil, because hatred of what is good comes from him. Sometimes we attribute it to God, because judgment on haughtiness comes from Him, since He exalts the humble and brings down the proud. Therefore the holier virgin will fear, even under the name of fascination, both the adversary on the one hand and God on the other: the envious disposition of the former, and the censorial light of the latter. And she will rejoice to be known only to herself and to God. But even if she has been recognized by any other, she is wise to have blocked up the pathway against temptations. For who will dare to intrude with his eyes upon a veiled face? A face without feeling? A face, so to speak, morose? Any evil thought whatever will be broken by that very severity. She who conceals her virginity, by that fact denies even her womanhood.