Virginity

Virginity is basically derived from a word that means what is fresh, unseared, untouched by harming influence. The essential thing in virginity is not a condition of the body, butthe perpetual refraining from the use or pleasures of sex.

Reason requires that external or material goods be used in a due and proportionate way. Now, the use of sex for the propagation of the race is necessary, good, natural, reasonable. But such use, while necessary for people in general, is not necessary for each individual. The race is sufficiently propagated and assured of continuance and increase, even if a very large number of individuals live singly and make no use of sex at all. Hence, virginity is not unreasonable, for it does no harm tothe common good. And if virginity is practiced for a good and holy reason, it is a most noble virtue.

Virginity as integrity of the flesh and freedom from sexual experience is natural to human beings from their birth. But virginity as a virtue is that virginity which is freely chosen forthe purpose of serving God more completely, of giving the mind tothe contemplation of divine things in the absence of family care sand with the sacrifice of family joys.

Virginity is directed to the good of the soul. Marriage is directed to the propagation of the race. In itself, therefore,virginity is more excellent than chaste marriage.

Virginity is the most excellent virtue in the genus or class of chastity. It surpasses the chastity ofthe married state, and the chastity of widowhood. But it is not the greatest of all virtues. The theological virtues of faith, hope,and charity are superior in excellence to virginity, as are the virtues of religion and the fortitude which sustains the martyr.