Q. 1. Can you explain to me, what is the "Vow of Obedience?"

A. 1. In summary, the "Vow of Obedience" is the voluntary binding of oneself under oath to obey the superiors in a religious institute, or a confessor, or spiritual guide. By this means a person is more permanently and securely united with God's saving will. Speaking of religious, the Second Vatican Council declares: "Moved by the Holy Spirit, they subject themselves in faith to those who hold God's place, their superiors. Through them they are led to serve all their brothers in Christ, just as Christ ministered to his brothers in submission to the Father and laid down his life for the redemption of many. They are thus bound more closely to the Church's service and they endeavor to attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Decree on Renewal of Religious Life, 14). In some institutes of perfection a promise of obedience is taken instead of a formal vow.

Religious obedience is that general submission which religious vow to God, and voluntarily promise to their superiors, in order to be directed by them in the ways of perfection according to the purpose and constitutions of their order. It consists, according to Lessius (De Justitia, II, xlvi, 37), in a man's allowing himself to be governed throughout his life by another for the sake of God. It is composed of three elements:

• the sacrifice offered to God of his own independence in the generality of his actions, at least of such as are exterior;

• the motive, namely, personal perfection, and, as a rule, also the performance of spiritual or corporal works of mercy and charity;

• the express or implied contract with an order (formerly also with a person), which accepts the obligation to lead him to the end for which he accepts its laws and direction.

Religious obedience, therefore, does not involve that extinction of all individuality, so often alleged against convents and the Church; nor is it unlimited, for it is not possible either physically or morally that a man should give himself up absolutely to the guidance of another. The choice of a superior, the object of obedience, the authority of the hierarchical Church, all exclude the idea of arbitrary rule.

The deepest meaning of the vow of obedience is expressed in the fullness of the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection. "Christ became obedient unto death."

"In professing obedience, religious offer the full surrender of their own will as a sacrifice of themselves to God and are so united permanently and securely to God's salvific will... Far from lowering the dignity of the human person, religious obedience leads it to maturity by extending the freedom of the sons of God." (Perfectae Caritatis, 14)