The Reward of Chastity

For it is a great and a divine thing, almost beyond what a bodily nature can do, to lull luxury to sleep; to put out, by strength of mind, the flame of lust that the torch of youth has kindled; to master by spiritual effort the force of natural pleasure; to live against the habit of the whole human race; to despise the comforts of marriage; to scorn the sweet delights that come from children; and, in the hope of blessedness to come, to count as nothing everything that is reckoned among the advantages of this present life. This, as I have said, is a great and admirable virtue, and not without reason a vast reward awaits it, in proportion to the greatness of its labor. The Scripture says, “I will give to the eunuchs, says the Lord, a place in my house and within my walls, a place counted better than sons and daughters. I will give them an eternal name, and it will not fail.” And the Lord speaks again of such eunuchs in the Gospel, saying, “For there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” [a]

Great indeed is the struggle that goes with chastity, but greater is the reward. The restraint lasts only for a time, but the reward will be eternal. For the blessed apostle John also speaks of these people, saying that “they follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” I think this is to be understood to mean that no place in the court of heaven will be closed to them, but that all the dwellings of the divine mansions will be thrown open before them.