Chapter XIX.
The turtledove is praised because of its widowhood, and this virtue is even preferred to women, even Christian ones.
62. But let us come to the turtle-dove, which the law of God has chosen as the offering of a chaste victim (Lev. 12:8). Finally, when the Lord was circumcised, it was offered; for it is written in the law of the Lord that they should offer a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons (Luke 2:24). For this is truly the sacrifice of Christ, chastity of the body, and grace of the spirit. Chastity is referred to the turtle-dove, grace to the pigeon. For the turtle-dove is carried where it has lost its own marital pairing, being widowed, weary of bridal chambers, and no longer having the name of marriage; because the first love deceived it, having been deceived by the death of the beloved, since it was both unfaithful in perpetuity, and bitter in producing more grief from death than sweetness from love. Therefore, she refuses to repeat the conjugal bond, nor does she dissolve the rights of modesty or the agreements of a pleasing husband; she reserves her love only for him, she keeps the name of wife. Learn, women, how great is the grace of widowhood, which is even praised in birds.
Who then gave these laws to turtles? If I search for a man, I do not find one. For no man dared, since not even Paul dared to prescribe laws of widowed chastity. Finally, he himself says: I desire, therefore, that younger women marry, bear children, be mothers of families, and give no occasion to the adversary (I Tim. V, 14). And elsewhere: It is good for them, if they so remain, but if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn (I Cor. VII, 8). Paul desires in women what he persists in doves. And elsewhere he encourages the younger ones to marry; because our women can hardly fulfill the chastity of doves. Therefore, God has poured out this affection upon doves, he has given them the virtue of continence, who alone can prescribe what all must follow. The dove does not burn with the flower of youth, it is not tempted by the snare of opportunity: the dove does not know how to break the first faith; because it knows how to keep the chastity promised by the first lot of marriage.