Stubborn Obedience!

From Gozzano Don Bosco went to another diocese where a convent of women tertiaries was in open rebellion against the local bishop and seemingly could not be persuaded to obey. They wanted to follow the strict rule of their order and thus become independent of their ordinary. Don Bosco went there and was ushered into the reception room with signs of honor and esteem. All the nuns were on their knees; they likewise knelt on coming to the grill to speak to him. When the superioress asked him to address the community he tried to decline, but she insisted. "All right then," he said. "Tell me, do you think much of Don Bosco?" "Of course we do! We look upon you as a saint. "Will you accept what I am going to tell you?" "Most willingly." "Good! You know that Holy Scripture says: 'Obey your superiors [Heb. 13, 17] Therefore ...... “These are matters for confession," the superioress broke in, "and are the exclusive concern of our spiritual director." "You say that you esteem me as a saint and then you refuse to Iisten to me?" Don Bosco countered. “Excuse me, Father, but you'd better keep out of this." "Very well, but I hope. . . ." He could not continue. The curtains had been drawn over the grill. On returning the next day, he was again received most respectfully. He made another attempt to bring those tertiaries to better sentiments, but he was vehemently rejected. Don Bosco's charitable intervention proved totally ineffective. The controversy ended with the bishop's suppression of the convent. Two of those tertiaries later called on Don Bosco but still stubbornly clung to their notions. "When such groundless stubborness takes hold of one's mind," Don Bosco warned his Salesians, "how can sanctity ever flourish? Where humble obedience reigns, grace will triumph." BM Vol. 8, ch. 14, p.92-93

Keep in mind that Don Bosco extolled obedience as a means to Sanctity. But as human as we are, sometimes, obeying even the highest authorities are very difficult, knowing that their authority comes from God himself. Don Bosco gave up on this situation because he knows that stubbornness to change is the worst enemy of this vow. If only we can say to ourselves: Lord, let your will, not mine be done, then we can be assured of our sanctity.

Article 65: Salesian style of obedience and authority “...The service of authority and the willingness to obey are the principles of cohesion in the Congregation, and guarantee its permanence; for the Salesian they are the path to holiness and the source of energy in his work, of joy and of peace.