291 It has been supposed that St. Ambrose in this passage by "father" means "spiritual father," in whose hands the teaching and guidance of the young was put. But there is no reason why the word should not be taken in its ordinary sense. If so, however, the father must have been in one of the inferior orders only, or else his children must have been born before he was admitted to the priesthood. For elsewhere (I. 258), as here, St. Ambrose clearly shows that absolute continence is required of priests, after entering on their sacred office.
295 The words decorum and honestum being used in different senses, it is not possible to give the points in a translation as in the original.
299 1 Tim. ii. 9, 1 Tim. ii. 10.
301 1 Cor. xi. 13, 1 Cor. xi. 14.
302 Prov. viii 30, Prov. viii 31 [LXX.].
305 "inequitat." Ed. Med. has "inquietat."
311 2 Sam. [2 Kings] xvi. 11, 2 Sam. [2 Kings] xvi. 12.
315 Cf. St. Amb. Enarr. in Ps. xxxix. [xxxviii.].
325 The question kept coming up from time to time: Did Baptism annul all previous impedimenta ordinationis? Even in the fifth century, as Pope Innocent I. (Ep. XXIX.) shows some maintained that as Baptism puts away all sins committed previous to its reception, so also it removes all impediments to ordination. This same idea St. Ambrose combats here.