The precepts of the Apostle concerning a widow indeed
are laid down, such as, that she bring up children, attend to her
parents, desire to please God, show herself irreproachable, set forth a
ripeness of merits, have been the wife of one man. St. Ambrose
notes, however, that a second marriage was not condemned by St. Paul,
and adds that widows must have a good report for virtue with all.
The reasons why younger widows are to be avoided, and what is meant by
its being better to marry than to burn. St. Ambrose then goes on
to speak of the dignity of widows, shown by the fact that any injury
done to them is visited by the anger of God.