Practice of Spiritual Infancy
For an appropriate practice of spiritual childhood, a person should not seek an office of authority. But if obliged he must readily accept it … [And] if one is not elected to an office, he should not complain. But a person must be prepared to accept any office. (OOCC, II, p. 20)
St. Vincent Pallotti gives a clear-cut direction as to how the practice of spiritual childhood should be with regard to a person’s attitude towards accepting an office of authority. A person should not look for one. St. Vincent condemned the attitude of vying and competing for an office of authority. It was prevalent among the clerics of his time. Detesting this attitude that was widespread in the clerical hierarchy, and to prevent it among the members of the Society he founded, he introduced the promise of “non-acceptance of the ecclesiastical dignities.” While not ambitiously looking for holding an office of authority, St. Vincent was not averse to accepting such an office if he is obliged to hold an office for a good reason. Again, St. Vincent says that if a person is not elected to an office of authority, he should not complain or lament about the denial of such an office to him. For his lamentation amounts to ambitious seeking of an office of authority. But at the same time, a person should cultivate within himself a readiness to accept any office of authority, because it is a way of serving God and his people. Thus, it is clear that St. Vincent was not against holding an office of authority, but he was against ambitiously seeking and competitively vying for any office. If an office were viewed as an opportunity to serve God and his people, he would encourage a person to hold an office of authority. Thus, for him, service must be the motive of holding any form of authority.
Am I child-like in my attitude of seeking positions of authority? Am I ambitious and do I vie for positions of authority? Do I complain when I am not elected to an office of authority? Is the service of God’s people the motive of my accepting an office?
This is the one whom I approve: the lowly and afflicted man who trembles at my word. (Is. 66: 2)