A Novice's Thesis: ON DIVINE OBEDIENCE

[GoodGuyMatt 7066]

A Novice's Thesis:

ON DIVINE OBEDIENCE

Written on the Sun's Smile, 1851

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in GOD,

 

Throughout the practices and beliefs of our Mother Church, us Canonists believe obedience to be a prime virtue. To be obedient to our spiritual leaders is held in high importance. The clerics take vows to obey GOD and their Pontiff, and the Pontiff takes vows to obey the Mother Church, her Tradition, and GOD. The Seven Canticles of the Scroll of Virtue are: Faith, Charity, Temperance, Diligence, Patience, Fidelity, and Humility. No obedience.

 

Thus does the First Scroll tell us that obedience is not its own virtue, it does not stand from nothing. So, it must come from something. In itself, obedience means to comply, to do as one is told. This can be anything. In technicality, if one is told to do a summersault, and they comply, they are obedient. Yet, I would argue that this is not the type of obedience that the good Canonist should strive for, or the type of obedience that clerics vow to partake in. This type of obedience I will label ‘Divine Obedience’, and I believe it stems from the last Canticle, that of Humility. As GOD said:

 

“For I have given to you a theater of virtue, and I have ordered the estates of the world. And you shall be without pretense or conceit, for before the mountain, the ant and the aurochs are equally small.” (Virtue 7:6-7)

 

Thus, the most virtuous live not for their own pride and their own will, for they understand that it is insignificant. They instead live a life dedicated to the fulfillment of the divine will. It is so that divine obedience comes to be. It is not a state of subservience towards another person’s orders. Instead, this divine obedience stems from the love of GOD, it is not executed as chores are executed, but it is instead done in a state of mindlessness, for it is the love of GOD that drives the act of obedience. Much like we love GOD mindlessly, we obey his word mindlessly.

 

Throughout the Scroll of Gospel, we see the Exalted obey to the divine will, which is revealed to them directly from GOD:

 

“At once the darkness was cast out by a sword ablaze, and there GOD spoke to Owyn… Owyn took up the sword, and was consumed with warmth. He did as he was bidden and went into the village of Rafal.” (Gospel 4:21 and 4:29)

 

And again

 

“Owyn obeyed the command of GOD and anointed the brothers Evaristus and Clement…” (Gospel 5:3)

 

Depiction of a Novice Monk practicing Divine Obedience as he receives a task from his Elder.

 

Thus, we question, how can we, the current flock of GOD participate in Divine Obedience? None are able to hear the word of GOD like the Exalted did. The answer to this is simple, we do so through our leaders. Just like “At Owyn’s command, the brothers set shepherds over the flock of men, and so created a priesthood for their instruction” (Gospel 5:5), so we, the canonist flock today, still have our shepherds and clerics to guide us. It is thus that Divine Obedience transitions into the obedience of our spiritual leaders. Just like GOD, through Owyn, set out the shepherds of the flock to guide the faithful, so he again brings us our shepherds to teach us of his divine will. The message then is simple, we ought to obey our spiritual leaders with a loving heart. However, as is with everything ever since the meddling of Iblees, things become complicated.

 

What happens then, when the soul of a spiritual leader of ours is corrupt and orders us to commit heresy? The answer then should, again, be simple. We do not obey them, for such would go against the divine will. The author of “A Thesis on Obedience” seems to agree with such, as should any good Canonist, naturally. However, what I find improper in the message of this thesis, is how heresy is determined. The author writes “If one believes a Pontiff to be going against scripture and GOD’s will then one must obey the teachings of the scrolls for to go against scripture is to go against GOD himself.” This begs the question, who are we, the mere flock, so filled and corrupted with sin that we are unable to account for all of them, to say whether or not a decision taken is heretical? Whilst in some cases this may be more than obvious, based on our Church’s dogma, there come cases where the line blurs.

 

One such case would be the recent decision of His Holiness Everard VI to allow women to be ordained as Priests, which becomes a prime example of where the lines blur. It didn’t take long after the decision was taken for many of our spiritual leaders to either call it a heresy, or back it. Not only our spiritual leaders, but even us the flock began dividing between ourselves on the legitimacy of this decision.

 

In such a case, as is Canon Law, the gathering of an Ecumenical Council to decide upon the matter is required. However, in this case such was impossible due to schemes and coups of Anti-Pontiffs. Should the faithful flock then, in their belief that the Pontiff has committed heresy stray from their leader? Should they adopt wroth in their hearts and separatism in their soul? I argue that they should not, at least not until an Ecumenical Council is held. Us sinful mortals tend to forget that despite our rambles and screams, none but the word of GOD matters. Let us not forget how in the Book of Owyn, after the Exalted drew the blood of his own uncle inside the holy city, he still remained GOD’s prophet:

 

“And GOD spoke again. “That which is done is not undone, for the lords of this land have seen your sin. But you remain My prophet.”” (Gospel 4:55-56)

 

We only see the word of GOD prevail, for the Exalted is kept as His prophet, despite the flock witnessing his sin. Who are we then, as a simple flock in our fallen state of sin, to decide the legitimacy of the successor of Exalted Owyn? Do Ecumenical Councils, gathered by the grace of GOD, not exist?

 

Thus, Divine Obedience, differently from common obedience, serves only to progress the Divine Will, and should not be confused with subservience, for it is done with love and humility at heart. It should be executed mindlessly and selflessly, for it stems from humility, and only through it can we reach connection with GOD. So, do you laymen listen to your priests and friars, and heed their word. So, do you fellow novices obey your elder monks, and do all with love in your heart. So too, do you children obey your parent’s words. At the same time, however, should the faithful stay vigilant in their obedience, to make sure that they do not fall into heresy through either obeying or disobeying their spiritual leaders. It is paramount that we understand our own stance in the grand scheme of the Divine Will and its understanding, and that unless the Dogma of our Mother Church clearly states such, we do not label whatever is inconvenient for us as heresy, lest we fall in worldly ambitions.

 

With love in GOD,
Novice Ernst

[Ramon 3965]

Karl stuffs a copy of the thesis written by his father in his pocket, determined on showing it to the High Pontiff the soonest he were able.

[rep2k 2477]

Father Erhard nods to his cousin, a warm smile on his face as he looks at the thesis, "Selected words, fine wording, and perfect understanding of our faith. Good work, Ernst.."