Itisasasacrifice，amodeof“mortification。”thatobedienceisprimarilyconceivedbyCatholicwriters，a“sacrificewhichmanofferstoGod，andofwhichheishimselfboththepriestandthevictim。Bypovertyheimmolateshisexteriorpossessions；bychastityheimmolateshisbody；byobediencehecompletesthesacrifice，andgivestoGodallthatheyetholdsashisown，histwomostpreciousgoods，hisintellectandhiswill。Thesacrificeisthencompleteandunreserved，agenuineholocaust，fortheentirevictimisnowconsumedforthehonorofGod。”[186]
Accordingly，inCatholicdiscipline，weobeyoursuperiornotasmereman，butastherepresentativeofChrist。ObeyingGodinhimbyourintention，obedienceiseasy。Butwhenthetext-booktheologiansmarshalcollectivelyalltheirreasonsforrecommendingit，themixturesoundstoourearsratherodd。
[186]Lejuene：IntroductionalaVieMystique，1899，p。277。
TheholocaustsimilegoesbackatleastasfarasIgnatiusLoyola。
“Oneofthegreatconsolationsofthemonasticlife。”saysaJesuitauthority，“istheassurancewehavethatinobeyingwecancommitnofault。TheSuperiormaycommitafaultincommandingyoutodothisthingorthat，butyouarecertainthatyoucommitnofaultsolongasyouobey，becauseGodwillonlyaskyouifyouhavedulyperformedwhatordersyoureceived，andifyoucanfurnishaclearaccountinthatrespect，youareabsolvedentirely。Whetherthethingsyoudidwereopportune，orwhethertherewerenotsomethingbetterthatmighthavebeendone，thesearequestionsnotaskedofyou，butratherofyourSuperior。Themomentwhatyoudidwasdoneobediently，Godwipesitoutofyouraccount，andchargesittotheSuperior。SothatSaintJeromewellexclaimed，incelebratingtheadvantagesofobedience，’Oh，sovereignliberty！Oh，holyandblessedsecuritybywhichonebecomealmostimpeccable！’
“SaintJohnClimachusisofthesamesentimentwhenhecallsobedienceanexcusebeforeGod。Infact，whenGodaskswhyyouhavedonethisorthat，andyoureply，itisbecauseIwassoorderedbymySuperiors，Godwillaskfornootherexcuse。Asapassengerinagoodvesselwithagoodpilotneedgivehimselfnofartherconcern，butmaygotosleepinpeace，becausethepilothaschargeoverall，and’watchesforhim’；soareligiouspersonwholivesundertheyokeofobediencegoestoheavenasifwhilesleeping，thatis，whileleaningentirelyontheconductofhisSuperiors，whoarethepilotsofhisvessel，andkeepwatchforhimcontinually。Itisnosmallthing，ofatruth，tobeabletocrossthestormyseaoflifeontheshouldersandinthearmsofanother，yetthatisjustthegracewhichGodaccordstothosewholiveundertheyokeofobedience。TheirSuperiorbearsalltheirburdens……Acertaingravedoctorsaidthathewouldratherspendhislifeinpickingupstrawsbyobedience，thanbyhisownresponsiblechoicebusyhimselfwiththeloftiestworksofcharity，becauseoneiscertainoffollowingthewillofGodinwhateveronemaydofromobedience，butnevercertaininthesamedegreeofanythingwhichwemaydoofourownpropermovement。”[187]
[187]AlfonsoRodriguez，S。J。：PratiquedelaPerfectionChretienne，Partiii。，Treatisev。，ch。x。
OneshouldreadthelettersinwhichIgnatiusLoyolarecommendsobedienceasthebackboneofhisorder，ifonewouldgaininsightintothefullspiritofitscult。[188]Theyaretoolongtoquote；butIgnatius’sbeliefissovividlyexpressedinacoupleofsayingsreportedbycompanionsthat，thoughtheyhavebeensooftencited，Iwillaskyourpermissiontocopythemoncemore：——
[188]Lettersli。andcxx。ofthecollectiontranslatedintoFrenchbyBouix，Paris，1870。
“Iought。”anearlybiographerreportshimassaying，“onenteringreligion，andthereafter，toplacemyselfentirelyinthehandsofGod，andofhimwhotakesHisplacebyHisauthority。IoughttodesirethatmySuperiorshouldobligemetogiveupmyownjudgment，andconquermyownmind。IoughttosetupnodifferencebetweenoneSuperiorandanother，……butrecognizethemallasequalbeforeGod，whoseplacetheyfill。
ForifIdistinguishpersons，Iweakenthespiritofobedience。
InthehandsofmySuperior，Imustbeasoftwax，athing，fromwhichheistorequirewhateverpleaseshim，beittowriteorreceiveletters，tospeakornottospeaktosuchaperson，orthelike；andImustputallmyfervorinexecutingzealouslyandexactlywhatIamordered。Imustconsidermyselfasacorpsewhichhasneitherintelligencenorwill；belikeamassofmatterwhichwithoutresistanceletsitselfbeplacedwhereveritmaypleaseanyone；likeastickinthehandofanoldman，whousesitaccordingtohisneedsandplacesitwhereitsuitshim。SomustIbeunderthehandsoftheOrder，toserveitinthewayitjudgesmostuseful。
“ImustneveraskoftheSuperiortobesenttoaparticularplace，tobeemployedinaparticularduty……Imustconsidernothingasbelongingtomepersonally，andasregardsthethingsIuse，belikeastatuewhichletsitselfbestrippedandneveropposesresistance。”[189]
[189]Bartoli-Michel，ii。13
TheothersayingisreportedbyRodriguezinthechapterfromwhichIamomentagomadequotations。WhenspeakingofthePope’sauthority，Rodriguezwrites：——
“SaintIgnatiussaid，whengeneralofhiscompany，thatiftheHolyFatherweretoorderhimtosetsailinthefirstbarkwhichhemightfindintheportofOstia，nearRome，andtoabandonhimselftothesea，withoutamast，withoutsails，withoutoarsorrudderoranyofthethingsthatareneedfulfornavigationorsubsistence，hewouldobeynotonlywithalacrity，butwithoutanxietyorrepugnance，andevenwithagreatinternalsatisfaction。”[190]
[190]Rodriguez：Op。cit。，Partiii。，Treatisev。，ch。vi。
Withasolitaryconcreteexampleoftheextravagancetowhichthevirtueweareconsideringhasbeencarried，Iwillpasstothetopicnextinorder。
“SisterMarieClaire[ofPortRoyal]hadbeengreatlyimbuedwiththeholinessandexcellenceofM。deLangres。Thisprelate，soonafterhecametoPortRoyal，saidtoheroneday，seeinghersotenderlyattachedtoMotherAngelique，thatitwouldperhapsbebetternottospeaktoheragain。MarieClaire，greedyofobedience，tookthisinconsideratewordforanoracleofGod，andfromthatdayforwardremainedforseveralyearswithoutoncespeakingtohersister。”[191]
[191]Sainte-Beuve：HistoiredePortRoyal，i。346。
OurnexttopicshallbePoverty，feltatalltimesandunderallcreedsasoneadornmentofasaintlylife。Sincetheinstinctofownershipisfundamentalinman’snature，thisisonemoreexampleoftheasceticparadox。Yetitappearsnoparadoxatall，butperfectlyreasonable，themomentonerecollectshoweasilyhigherexcitementsholdlowercupiditiesincheck。HavingjustquotedtheJesuitRodriguezonthesubjectofobedience，I
will，togiveimmediatelyaconcreteturntoourdiscussionofpoverty，alsoreadyouapagefromhischapteronthislattervirtue。Youmustrememberthatheiswritinginstructionsformonksofhisownorder，andbasesthemallonthetext，“Blessedarethepoorinspirit。”
“Ifanyoneofyou。”hesays，“willknowwhetherornotheisreallypoorinspirit，lethimconsiderwhetherhelovestheordinaryconsequencesandeffectsofpoverty，whicharehunger，thirst，cold，fatigue，andthedenudationofallconveniences。
Seeifyouaregladtowearaworn-outhabitfullofpatches。
Seeifyouaregladwhensomethingislackingtoyourmeal，whenyouarepassedbyinservingit，whenwhatyoureceiveisdistastefultoyou，whenyourcellisoutofrepair。Ifyouarenotgladofthesethings，ifinsteadoflovingthemyouavoidthem，thenthereisproofthatyouhavenotattainedtheperfectionofpovertyofspirit。”Rodriguezthengoesontodescribethepracticeofpovertyinmoredetail。“ThefirstpointisthatwhichSaintIgnatiusproposesinhisconstitutions，whenhesays，’Letnooneuseanythingasifitwerehisprivatepossession。’’Areligiousperson，’hesays，’oughtinrespecttoallthethingsthatheuses，tobelikeastatuewhichonemaydrapewithclothing，butwhichfeelsnogriefandmakesnoresistancewhenonestripsitagain。Itisinthiswaythatyoushouldfeeltowardsyourclothes，yourbooks，yourcell，andeverythingelsethatyoumakeuseof；iforderedtoquitthem，ortoexchangethemforothers，havenomoresorrowthanifyouwereastatuebeinguncovered。Inthiswayyouwillavoidusingthemasiftheywereyourprivatepossession。Butif，whenyougiveupyourcell，oryieldpossessionofthisorthatobjectorexchangeitforanother，youfeelrepugnanceandarenotlikeastatue，thatshowsthatyouviewthesethingsasiftheywereyourprivateproperty。’
“AndthisiswhyourholyfounderwishedthesuperiorstotesttheirmonkssomewhatasGodtestedAbraham，andtoputtheirpovertyandtheirobediencetotrial，thatbythismeanstheymaybecomeacquaintedwiththedegreeoftheirvirtue，andgainachancetomakeeverfartherprogressinperfection，……makingtheonemoveoutofhisroomwhenhefindsitcomfortableandisattachedtoit；takingawayfromanotherabookofwhichheisfond；orobligingathirdtoexchangehisgarmentforaworseone。Otherwiseweshouldendbyacquiringaspeciesofpropertyinalltheseseveralobjects，andlittlebylittlethewallofpovertythatsurroundsusandconstitutesourprincipaldefensewouldbethrowndown。Theancientfathersofthedesertusedoftenthustotreattheircompanions……SaintDositheus，beingsick-nurse，desiredacertainknife，andaskedSaintDorotheusforit，notforhisprivateuse，butforemploymentintheinfirmaryofwhichhehadcharge。WhereuponSaintDorotheusansweredhim：’Ha！Dositheus，sothatknifepleasesyousomuch！
WillyoubetheslaveofaknifeortheslaveofJesusChrist！Doyounotblushwithshameatwishingthataknifeshouldbeyourmaster？Iwillnotletyoutouchit。’Whichreproachandrefusalhadsuchaneffectupontheholydisciplethatsincethattimehenevertouchedtheknifeagain。’……
“Therefore，inourrooms。”FatherRodriguezcontinues，“theremustbenootherfurniturethanabed，atable，abench，andacandlestick，thingspurelynecessary，andnothingmore。Itisnotallowedamongusthatourcellsshouldbeornamentedwithpicturesoraughtelse，neitherarmchairs，carpets，curtains，noranysortofcabinetorbureauofanyelegance。Neitherisitallowedustokeepanythingtoeat，eitherforourselvesorforthosewhomaycometovisitus。Wemustaskpermissiontogototherefectoryevenforaglassofwater；andfinallywemaynotkeepabookinwhichwecanwritealine，orwhichwemaytakeawaywithus。Onecannotdenythatthusweareingreatpoverty。
Butthispovertyisatthesametimeagreatreposeandagreatperfection。Foritwouldbeinevitable，incaseareligiouspersonwereallowedtoownsupernuouspossessions，thatthesethingswouldgreatlyoccupyhismind，beittoacquirethem，topreservethem，ortoincreasethem；sothatinnotpermittingusatalltoownthem，alltheseinconveniencesareremedied。Amongthevariousgoodreasonswhythecompanyforbidssecularpersonstoenterourcells，theprincipaloneisthatthuswemaytheeasierbekeptinpoverty。Afterall，weareallmen，andifweweretoreceivepeopleoftheworldintoourrooms，weshouldnothavethestrengthtoremainwithintheboundsprescribed，butshouldatleastwishtoadornthemwithsomebookstogivethevisitorsabetteropinionofourscholarship。”[192]
[192]Rodriguez：Op。cit。，Partiii，Treatiseiii。，chaps。vi。，vii。
SinceHindufakirs，Buddhistmonks，andMohammedandervishesunitewithJesuitsandFranciscansinidealizingpovertyastheloftiestindividualstate，itisworthwhiletoexamineintothespiritualgroundsforsuchaseeminglyunnaturalopinion。Andfirst，ofthosewhichlieclosesttocommonhumannature。
TheoppositionbetweenthemenwhoHAVEandthemenwhoAREisimmemorial。Thoughthegentleman，intheold-fashionedsenseofthemanwhoiswellborn，hasusuallyinpointoffactbeenpredaceousandreveledinlandsandgoods，yethehasneveridentifiedhisessencewiththesepossessions，butratherwiththepersonalsuperiorities，thecourage，generosity，andpridesupposedtobehisbirthright。TocertainhucksteringkindsofconsiderationhethankedGodhewasforeverinaccessible，andifinlife’svicissitudesheshouldbecomedestitutethroughtheirlack，hewasgladtothinkthatwithhissheervalorhewasallthefreertoworkouthissalvation。“Wernurselbstwashatte。”
saysLessing’sTempelherr，inNathantheWise，“meinGott，meinGott，ichhabenichts！”Thisidealofthewell-bornmanwithoutpossessionswasembodiedinknight-errantryandtemplardom；and，hideouslycorruptedasithasalwaysbeen，itstilldominatessentimentally，ifnotpractically，themilitaryandaristocraticviewoflife。Weglorifythesoldierasthemanabsolutelyunincumbered。Owningnothingbuthisbarelife，andwillingtotossthatupatanymomentwhenthecausecommandshim，heistherepresentativeofunhamperedfreedominidealdirections。Thelaborerwhopayswithhispersondaybyday，andhasnorightsinvestedinthefuture，offersalsomuchofthisidealdetachment。Likethesavage，hemaymakehisbedwhereverhisrightarmcansupporthim，andfromhissimpleandathleticattitudeofobservation，theproperty-ownerseemsburiedandsmotheredinignobleexternalitiesandtrammels，“wadinginstrawandrubbishtohisknees。”TheclaimswhichTHINGSmakearecorruptersofmanhood，mortgagesonthesoul，andadraganchoronourprogresstowardstheempyrean。