Obedience Always Works for Good St. Benedi

First frout our own santification

In the last part of this chapter, the author unfolds the effects of obedience: it is meant to produce fruits. True obedience is always fruitful. However, we have to clarify that the true fruits are not the success of the apostolate, but our own sanctification. As St. Paul says, "Lest after teaching others the way of salvation, I myself should be condemned."

Yes, because exterior success can only be an appearance of success. If this work is not ruled by obedience, then it is my work and not the work of God.

I want to share something that I discovered. When I experienced my first transfer, I was shocked by the fact that crowds were following my apostolate, and it seemed that my new assignment would be less fruitful. But in the midst of these struggles, one fixed idea came to my mind: the greatest good you can do is the good that God asks of you, not the good that you perceive.

This is a trick and a trap that has led many to leave religious life. At one point, the fruits of their apostolate lead them to believe that they are indispensable, and they prefer to continue their apostolate rather than surrender their will to their superior, and through him, to God. Because they perceive that the best good is the good that they perceive, not what the superius asked for.

But the first soul we have been called to save is our own.

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Dom Marmion writes:

"I had all I needed for my sanctification, except for one good, that of obedience. That is why I left my country, giving up my freedom and all else. I can say that I became a monk in order to obey. While I was still very young, I had what is called a good position, success, and friends who were very dear to me, but I had not the opportunity to obey. I became a monk because God revealed to me the beauty and greatness of obedience."

Therefore, we can say that a religious who loses obedience has lost his principal means of sanctification and salvation.

Tow gifst of the obidience

The author mentions two great graces that obedience gives us.

The first is the certainty that we are doing the will of God. There is an immense peace in knowing that we are following God's will and not merely our own judgment.

The second grace, and for me one of the most important, is knowing that God is with us whenever He commands us through obedience.

"Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Jehovah replied: "I will be with thee." Our Lord has often repeated the same words to His saints when He gave them orders. He repeats them to every soul that trembles before the sacrifices imposed by obedience: "Fear not, for I am with thee" (Noli timere, quia ego tecum sum).

Finally, what happen when obedience lead me to see that what they asked is not working. even when it seems that our mission or our work is falling apart, if we remain under obedience, we know by faith that God is still at work.

And when seems like the obidience is not working

"So it may happen that, in spite of his good will, the obedient man may find his efforts result in a resounding failure. But in fact, the failure is only apparent. For the perfect religious will turn his mortification to account, and find, in his very humiliation, a wonderful opportunity of rising to the heights of abnegation, spirit of sacrifice, and perfect love of Jesus Christ.

There are defeats that are as glorious as victories. More than one saint has known these magnificent and immensely fruitful failures. The death of Christ on the Cross, by obedience, appeared to all, even His own apostles, like the failure of His mission and the final ruin of His work. Yet it was at the very hour when everything apparently collapsed that Jesus saved humanity and founded His Kingdom."

Happy is the religious of whom it can be said, as of Jesus:

"Et erat subditus." "And He was subject to them." (Luke 2:51)