Beard Apologetics

 

Our Head is Christ crucified and buried, who was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. And the Holy Spirit came from our head. To what did he come? To the beard. The beard is the sign of strong men; a beard is typical of young, vigorous, energetic, eager people. That is why we say, "He's a bearded fellow", when we describe someone of this character. The fragrant oil therefore fell first upon the Apostles, upon those who withstood the first assaults of the world, and therefore the Holy Spirit descended on them. For they who first began to dwell together in unity, suffered persecution. but because the oil had flowed down onto the beard, they suffered, but were not overcome. Their head had preceded them on the path of suffering, and from him the oil flowed. Who could conquer the beard when such an example had gone before?

In: Saint Augustine, Exposition of Psalm 132.