Understanding One’s Office Rightly

Imagine that your office of the superior is your Calvary and all the tasks of administration as a continuation of the crucifixion. (OCL, II, 335, p. 56)

St. Vincent Pallotti wants his followers to have a proper understanding of the different offices they hold within the community or in the Church, especially those who hold positions of authority. In one of his letters addressed to a person who is elected to the office of the superior of a community, he states that the superior should consider his office as his Calvary, and all the tasks associated with the administration of the community as a continuation of the crucifixion. He also advises that a superior must live a life of perpetual diffidence, not totally counting on his power, knowing that he is not absolute in his authority. He instead must abandon his total confidence in God and live without any fear, believing that God will support everything he undertakes for he can do nothing without him. A superior should accept his office as a great responsibility and in the spirit of John the Baptist. John the Baptist accepted his life’s task to present Christ, the Son of the Father, to the people. In the same way, a superior must discern and communicate the will of God to the members of the community. To accomplish the task of the superior in this spirit implies that the superior should be ready to carry the cross along with Jesus to Calvary. In doing so, like Jesus, he will bring glory and joy to the members of his community.

What is my attitude towards authority? Do I consider the office of authority as a service to the community or a personal privilege? Am I ready to accept the troubles of being a leader joyfully? Do I accept any office of authority as a great responsibility? Do I realize that the task of the superior is to discern and communicate the will of God?

This is he [John the Baptist], who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, when he said: “The voice of the one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Mt. 3: 3)