The Catholic Hermit Reads a Book on Obedience

It is a short book. It is thorough, concise, rich in Scripture and clarity, in truth and theological solidity. The nothing happened upon it at the used book store, but it is found on-line. The nothing decided to read it as a prayer for the Bishop's request for prayer on a very serious intention, and that issue had its root in obedience. Or, in this case, the lack of obedience of some to the Bishop.

The book, The Mysticism of Obedience, was written at the time of the Second Vatican Council. It is a beautiful rendering of the meaning of obedience to God, to the Church, by the late Rev. Bernard Leeming, SJ, of England. He writes solidly the foundations of the justification for religious obedience. Quoted below are the main points which he summarizes at the conclusion.

1. Obedience is good in itself, and not for any utilitarian purpose because obedience in itself unites me to God; and unity with God is an end in itself.

2. Obedience reflects the unity of Christ with His Father and reflects the divine life in Him. So it does likewise in me.

3. It is through obedience, as such, and not through human advantages secrued by obedience, that Christ redeemed us. It is through obedience that we share His redeeming mission, share His power to save souls.

4. Progress in obedience means progress in union with Christ and means, too, greater accomplishment in our redemptive union with Him. with Christ we are co-workers in redemption; but that co-working is, first and middle and last, union in His obedience.

5. Consequently, let us pray for opportunities of obedience: that we may do each task because God commands it, and that we may find our love and our life in doing His will. If the commands are simple, thank God; if they are difficult--perhaps removal from an office, perhaps subordination to an uncongenial superior--thank God more, for what else are we for but to obey?

Leeming, Rev. Bernard, S.J. The Mysticism of Obedience. 1964. Boston, MA: Daughters of St. Paul, pp.70-71.

This little book sets forth the truth about the good of obedience. Obedience is, truly, mystical yet very practical. The spiritual da the other day remarked, "The Church is being ruined by disobedience!" Well, of course we know that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church, but there are plenty of well-known religious sisters, brothers, clerics, and lay people who dissent: who disobey.

We see it in the Churches with no crucifixes, or the Tabernacles off in a corner or in another room entirely. We see it in lay people who contracept and abort babies, and Catholic politicians who support abortion, euthanasia, and embyronic stem cell research. We see it in ways within our own minds and hearts--that niggling anger when we are told to do this or that, and we want it our way or the way it used to be. Then we see it in religious sisters who preach homilies in their convents, who espouse to be ordained priests. Or in religious brothers and priests who teach seminarians new age ideologies. Or in clerics who do not obey their Bishops, or Bishops who do not obey the Holy Father. There are hundreds of examples.

We see it in dogs who with muddy paws (or not) jump up on people when the owner says: SIT.