Motive of Consecrated Obedience

No one will obey just because he has to, or because he would be reproached or punished … We are to obey … the superior’s orders … for the best judgment is that of God, which manifests itself through him who takes the place of God. (OOCC, VII, p. 100; SD, p. 12)

For St. Vincent Pallotti, consecrated obedience is a very important virtue every consecrated person is called to live. He instructs his followers to have the right motive in living the consecrated obedience. The value of the virtue of obedience consists of having the right reason in obeying. If a person does not have the right motive, the act of obedience neither brings any blessing from God nor yields any fruit in his life. If a person obeys a given order because of the fear of censure or punishment, his motive is not proper. Similarly, if a person obeys to please the one who gives the order or to win a favor from him, he does not have the proper motive of obedience. All these motives involve one or the other compulsion, such as fear of the other, pleasing the other, or winning the favor of the other. According to St. Vincent, the right motive states that a person learns to obey not because he has to, but because he chooses to. In other words, the act of obeying is not done out of compulsion, but it is done by free choice. This free choice must be based on the belief that the superior takes the place of God here on earth, and his order truly manifests the judgement of God for the one obeying. Thus, when a person sees the will of God in the order of the superior, accepts it freely and obeys it willingly, he has the right motive of obedience.

Do I have the right motive in my obedience? Do I believe that my superior takes the place of God in my religious living? Do I believe that the will of God for me is manifested in the judgment of my superior? Do I obey compulsively? Is my act of obedience a free choice? Do I obey the order of my superior willingly?

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. (Heb. 13: 17).