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In 1583, Friar Luis de Leon of Spain published a treatise titled 'The Perfect Wife' for his newly-wed young niece. My grandmother gave me a heavily-highlighted 1943 edition, marked from her years of re-reading the book. I cannot find any editions still available for sale. 1/10
The book is packed with wisdom about gender and marriage that today would be largely un-printable. And there are many corollary bits of wisdom regarding housekeeping and a manly and temperate Catholic livelihood on the land. 2/
Br. Luis published the first collected works of St. Thersa of Avila, a contemporary, by collating her manuscripts himself. His proximity to wise men and women of great spiritual import informed his own writing, and his reflections in 'The Perfect Wife' are not to be dismissed. 3/
He has no anxiety whatsoever about describing a wife who is without honor in brutal terms. Such a wife is "but a treacherous harlot..." Yet he is deeply optimistic that such women are tragic rarities, and believes that women are capable of almost superhuman domestic power. 4/
He implies that husbands ought to give their wives the benefit of the doubt at all times - that the thought of dishonorable conduct by their wife should be considered unthinkable by any husband, so as to never call her character into question. 5/
"A married woman is to .. inspire her husband with confidence .. that having her to keep his house well-supplied .. he has no need to sail the seas, go to war, or put his money out at usurious interest.." 6/
" It is inevitable that .. he who absents himself from home should discover therein many an unpleasantness which arises, and grows, and gathers strength in the absence of the master." So much for the 40-hour work week! 7/
".. life in the country, and the cultivation of one's fields, make .. a school of innocence and rectitude .. Mother earth brings up her children to be sturdy and courageous, merry-hearted .. " He extols rural livelihoods for Catholic men, and domestic thrift for their wives. 8/
"If women are fond of good living, then their whole life turns on luncheon, and the afternoon reflection, and the garden with companion-gossip, and there goes a well-spent day!" This ends in "folly and madness." The Perfect Wife is content with hearty Christian poverty! 9/
Thus ends this little excerpt; whatever you think of it here is a fine record of the sorts of marital values that built the West. I should think if they were emulated today, in whole or in part, any young couple would profit. Happy Sunday to all! 10/10