Faith And Good Works

Moram autem faciente sponso, dormitaverunt omnes et dormierunt. Media autem nocte clamor factus est: Ecce sponsus venit, exite obviam ei. Tunc surrexerunt omnes virgines illæ, et ornaverunt lampades suas... Et dum haec mora tenditur, post perceptam fidem, luceat necesse est lumen fidelium coram hominibus, ut videntes bona opera eorum, glorificent Patrem Deum, qui est in coelis. Hoc quippe est oleum accipere in vasis suis, ad nutrimentum aeterni luminis, ut semper anima et corpus, dum hic vivitur, infundatur bonis actibus, ut habeat iugiter secum oleum laetitiae, et gaudium sancti Spiritus. Quod oleum post perceptam gratiam, reliquae virgines, secum sumere et enutrire quia noluerunt, fatuae dicuntur. Unde dicitur quia ex his quinque erant fatuae, et quinque prudentes, omnes tamen virgines, propter perceptam fidei gratiam; ex qua uno nomine omnis Ecclesia virgo est appellata; de qua Apostolus ait: Desponsavi vos uni viro virginem castam exhibere Christo. Adiunxit etiam et ait: Timeo autem ne sicut serpens Evam seduxit astutia sua, sic et vestri sensus corrumpantur, a castitate quae est in Christo. Et ideo non de solis virginibus, quas sanctimoniales vocamus, hac parabola figuratur, sed de omni Ecclesia; nam in corpore virginitatem pauci habent, in corde autem omnes habere debent. Et ideo per omnes quinque sensus corporis abstinentia bona est, ut ab omnibus se illicitis abstineat mens humana. Unde virginitas nomen accepit, et per hanc incorruptionem omnis Ecclesia Christi virgo dicitur et sponsa. Et non qualiscunque virgo, sed prudens; ita tamen si eius abstinentia a vitiis in laudem Dei reniteat. Alioquin si propter aliud, quaecunque videtur bona agere, inter fatuas deputabitur, eo quod salem sapientiae non habeat. Ob quam causam fatua invenitur, quia plures videntur habere fidem sine operibus; nonnullae vero etiam abstinentiam ab illicitis et ipsa opera bona, sed non propter Deum sinceriter, quamvis laudabilia censeantur. Unde et quinque admittuntur, quia prudentes fuerant, et quinque repelluntur, quia fatuae. Sanctus Paschasius Radbertus Corbeiensis, Expositio In Evangelium Matthaei, Lib XI Cap XXV Source: Migne PL 120.840a-d

The bridegroom was long in coming, so that they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. And at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom comes, go out to meet him.' Then all these virgins awoke and trimmed their lamps... 1 And while this delay lasts, after the reception of faith, it is necessary the light of the faithful shine among men, that seeing their good works, they glory God the Father, who is in heaven. 2 This is to receive the oil in one's flask, for the nourishment of eternal light, and ever the soul and the body, while it lives here, should be infused with good acts, that it might have within itself the oil of delight and the joy of the Holy Spirit. Which oil, after receiving grace, the other virgins, being unwilling to receive it and nourish it in themselves, are named foolish. Whence it is said that five of them are foolish and five wise, on account of their reception of the grace of faith, from which name the whole Church is named a virgin, concerning which the Apostle says: 'I have given you to one man, a chaste virgin to show to Christ.' 3 And in addition he then says: 'I fear lest as the serpent seduced Eve with his cleverness, so even your minds will be corrupted,' 4 from that chastity which is in Christ. And therefore this parable touches not only on virgins, those whom we call sanctified, but all the Church, for few have virignity in the body, but all should have it in the heart. And therefore through all the five senses of the body there is good abstinence, so that the human mind withdraws from all wicked things. Whence virginity receives its name, and by this incorruption all the Church of Christ is said to be a virgin and a bride. And not any sort of virgin but one who is wise, that is, if her abstinence from the vices shines back to the praise of God. Otherwise, if on account of something else, whatever good she seems to do, she is reckoned among fools, because she does not have the salt of wisdom. Because of which she is revealed to be foolish, because many seem to have faith without works. And not a few, however, have abstinence from wickedness and good works, but not on account of God sincerely, although they are reckoned worthy of praise. Whence five are admitted, because they were wise, and five refused, because they were foolish. Saint Paschasius Radbertus, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Book 11, Chapter 25 1 Mt 25.5-7 2 Mt 5.16 3 2 Cor 11.2 4 2 Cor 11.3