Holy obedience


Holy Obedience is a dogma in the Catholic Church that means two things: 1) Jesus' obedience unto death that makes atonement and reparation for mankind's disobedience Christian obedience to Jesus and to the Catholic Church in imitation of and share in Jesus' obedience.

Nature of Obedience

Holy obedience, the church teaches, is twofold: positively it is an act of love, and negatively it is a refusal to give in to temptation to sin. According to the church, the temptation of Christ vanquished Satan and the crucifixion of Jesus was the ultimate act of love. Moreover, Catholics share in Jesus' life and death by baptism and the other sacraments of the Catholic Church.

Sacrament of Obedience

According to the church, baptism makes one share in the kingly office of Jesus in the church, so that like and in Jesus a Christian can exercise self-mastery, while the Sacrament of Penance makes one reconcile with Jesus, and so re-share in his life, in the church. The sacrament of confirmation seals one with the Holy Spirit, who grants one all the virtues - Theological Virtues, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit - necessary to obey God. The eucharist augments one's union with Jesus, and so share in his obedience, in the Christian life in the church.

Levels of Obedience

All Catholics, the church teaches, must practice obedience of faith: assent of faith to the magisterium and divine revelation, and religious submission to the Pope and other bishops. This includes obedience to one's conscience and obedience to good law. As part of ordination, and priests and deacons promise obedience to God and to their bishops. Consecrated religious vow obedience to their superiors. Children obey their parents, and parents love their children and each other. Catholic schools have their employees sign contracts that state they will adhere to the teachings of the church.

Effects of Obedience

The church teaches that, by his obedience, Jesus perfectly fulfilled, and exemplifies and actuates, life according to the Fourth Commandment. By their obedience, the church teaches, Christians can make reparation for the sins of the world by refusing to participate in sin by exercising virtue, and can hasten the Second Coming.

Counsel of Obedience

One of the evangelical counsels, according to the church, is obedience. The counsel is not the same as refusing to commit sin, the church clarifies, but is optional and is a deepening of one's union with Jesus in the Christian life in the church.

Vow of Obedience

In religious life, Catholics profess to live according to the evangelical counsels. Canon law demands that monks and nuns obey their superiors as they would obey Jesus. As Jesus would not command or participate in sin, the religious may not obey a sinful command from their superiors.

Exemplars of Obedience

Mary exemplifies obedience of faith, the church teaches, by her assent of faith to the word of God at the Annunciation: "Let it be done to me according to your word." Catholic martyrs obey Jesus and the church unto suffering - such as Saint Patrick, who suffered abuse for his evangelization - and unto death - such as Mateo Correa Magallanes, who died rather than violate the Seal of the Confessional in the Catholic Church.