The Enchiridion 85

sant'Agostino d'Ippona (354–430 d.C.) · De fide spe et charitate · PL 40, 230–290

85 The Case of Abortive Conceptions PL 40, 272

Hence in the first place arises a question about abortive conceptions, which have indeed been born in the mother’s womb, but not so born that they could be born again. For if we shall decide that these are to rise again, we cannot object to any conclusion that may be drawn in regard to those which are fully formed. Now who is there that is not rather disposed to think that unformed abortions perish, like seeds that have never fructified? But who will dare to deny, though he may not dare to affirm, that at the resurrection every defect in the form shall be supplied, and that thus the perfection which time would have brought shall not be wanting, any more than the blemishes which time did bring shall be present: so that the nature shall neither want anything suitable and in harmony with it that length of days would have added, nor be debased by the presence of anything of an opposite kind that length of days has added; but that what is not yet complete shall be completed, just as what has been injured shall be renewed.

Fetus abortivi an resurgent. Unde primo occurrit de abortivis fetibus quaestio, qui jam quidem nati sunt in uteris matrum, sed nondum ita ut jam possent renasci. Si enim resurrecturos eos dixerimus; de iis qui jam formati sunt, tolerari potest utcumque quod dicitur: informes vero abortus quis non proclivius perire arbitretur, sicut semina quae concepta non fuerint? Sed quis negare audeat, etsi affirmare non audeat, id acturam resurrectionem, ut quiquid formae defuit impleatur? Atque ita non desit perfectio, quae accessura erat tempore, quemadmodum non erunt vitia quae accesserant tempore: ut neque in eo quod aptum et congruum dies allaturi fuerant, natura fraudetur; neque in eo quod adversum atque contrarium dies attulerant, natura turpetur; sed integretur quod nondum erat integrum, sicut instaurabitur quod fuerat vitiatum.

Philip Schaff (ed.), Buffalo/New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886-1889. Public domain: English translation first published 1885-1900 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series). Latin: Migne, Patrologia Latina (1844-1855), public domain; transcription from Corpus Corporum (University of Zurich).

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