Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. Obedience is the virtue of conforming ones conduct tothe command of a superior.
2. Obedience is a special virtue. Its specific object is acommand, expressed or understood. It is a moral virtue, that is, awill-virtue. Obedience is subordinate to the virtue of justice.
3. Obedience is perfectly practiced when it proceeds outof justice through charity. In measuring the greatness of obedienceas a virtue, we must not fail to grasp its debt to thesefundamental virtues of justice and charity. In itself, obedience isnot so great a virtue as the two virtues that give it perfecteffectiveness and value.
4. God is to be obeyed always and in all things. For Godis the absolute lord of all, the creator and owner of everycreature. Justice demands that all creatures should submit whollyto God's will.
5. Human superiors are to be obeyed within the sphere oftheir authority. They are not to be obeyed when their command is inconflict with the law of God.
6. Obedience to the civil law is the duty of citizens. AndChristians, more than others, should understand that the civilorder is necessary to man, and that it cannot be preserved withoutobedience to justly established human law. Yet no citizen is toobey a law that contravenes the law of God. When St. Peter and St.John were ordered by the Council to "speak no more in thisname [Jesus]," they answered (Acts 4:19): "If it be justin the sight of God to hear you rather than God, judge ye." Acivil law that conflicts with the law of God, is not a law at all,for a law is essentially "an ordinance of reason"; it iscomplete unreason for men to legislate against the supremelegislator.
"Lord, take from me everything that hinders me from going to You. give me all that will lead me to You. Take me from myself and give me to Yourself."
St Nicholas Flue
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"Before a man chooses his confessor, he ought to think well about it, and pray about it also; but when he has once chosen, he ought not to change, except for most urgent reasons, but put the utmost confidence in his director."
St Philip Neri
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"God has no need of men."
St Philip Neri
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