Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Monks' Rules (Author: Columbanus Hibernus)

Rule 6

Of Chastity (VIII)

A monk's chastity is indeed judged in his thoughts, and to him, along with the disciples who approached to hear, it is doubtless said by the Lord: He who looks on a woman to lust after her has already defiled her in his heart.’’

Matt. 5. 28

For while his vow is weighed by Him to Whom he is devoted, there is cause to fear lest He should find in the soul something to loathe, lest perhaps according to the opinion of St. Peter they have eyes full of wantonness and of adultery.’’

2 Pet. 2. 14

And what profit is it if he be virgin in body, if he be not virgin in mind? For God, being Spirit,’’

cf. Hieron. Epist. xxii. 38 Ioann. 4. 24

dwells in the spirit and the mind which He has seen undefiled, in which there is no adulterous thought, no stain of a spirit polluted, and no spot of sin.