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How sublime is the example set by the Redeemer to young people especially! Concerning Him, the incarnate Son of God, we read in Holy Scripture: “Jesus was subject to them (His parents) and advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and man” It is not difficult to understand that He “advanced in age,” for in this respect He was like all other children. On the other hand, the words: “He advanced in wisdom and grace,” must not be taken in their ordinary acceptation. The God-Man was always full of wisdom and grace, and could not therefore advance in them, but He permitted it to be increasingly perceived that He was full of wisdom and grace.
I wish to impress very strongly upon your heart and memory these words: “He was subject.” Thus did Jesus make Himself our example in the virtue of obedience, that virtue which, like a brilliant carnation, should find a place in the garland which adorns your youthful brow, and diffuse sweet fragrance all around.
What is obedience? It consists in subjecting our own will to the will of another. This most precious virtue is termed by St. Augustine “the mother and root of all virtues.” St. Bonaventure calls it, “a ship, in which one sails to heaven.” Hence we learn that obedience is a virtue, indispensably necessary for everyone, but especially for children and young people; for obedience is order, and order must prevail in every place where God is and where He reigns. Disobedience, the offspring of pride, kindled the flames of hell, and peoples its dread abode. In regard to this St. Bernard says “Abolish disobedience, and you will abolish hell.” Obedience is, according to St. Francis of Sales, a sweet virtue. He says: “He who rightly obeys will live aright; he will live sweetly, as does the child in the arms of its mother, free from anxiety and care.”
But obedience appears very unattractive to the eyes of young people; they want to cast off the yoke, and enjoy their liberty. Yet God has ordained that young girls should especially practice obedience. You must be conscious how weak and inexperienced you are, and how strong are your evil inclinations. Therefore is it most necessary that you should be wisely counseled, and prudently guided, in order that you may learn to know and to walk in the way of virtue and perfection. How sincerely is a young girl to be pitied if she is given her own way in everything. She will have no self-control; yet she will have to learn from bitter experience that we are all servants in one way or another. St. Thomas Aquinas says: “That wherein one man excels another man is given him of God, that therewith he may serve other men.” “Servant of the servants of God” has been the Pope’s title ever since the days of Gregory the Great. And Jesus said of Himself: “The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”
Be careful to be always truly obedient. You will find it very difficult at times, when pride, or obstinacy, or bad temper, strives for the mastery. But on this account it is doubly necessary that you should learn to bow beneath the yoke; for should you fail to do so now, you will perhaps be unable to conform at a later period. Yet you must live in subjection all your life long, whether you like it or not, for such has been the lot of every woman who has lived upon this earth. Thus you see that if you thoroughly learn how to obey, while you are still young, you will have done a great deal to promote the happiness of your future life; and a large majority of the sorrows and miseries so many of Eve’s daughters suffer will be spared you.
But mark this well: do not regard obedience as a painful necessity; consider it rather to be a Christian virtue. Obedience of this nature has its root in humility; faith sanctifies it, and love renders it sweet. For it is only Christian obedience, the obedience which springs from love for God, that will remain with you through life, whatever may be your circumstances. On the other hand, obedience which arises from compulsion, human respect, or a desire to please, is merely external, and therefore of no value. Obedience of this nature will never last long, and will not bring you true peace of mind.
To whom do you owe obedience? To your parents above everyone else, according to His example of whom we read: “He was subject to them.” Your parents are for you the representatives of God on earth. Therefore always pay heed to their exhortations, never grumble or make a pert answer. I have already said a great deal as to what your conduct to your parents should be when I spoke about the fourth commandment.
Mark one thing more: never be ashamed of your parents. Do not imitate a servant girl who procured a situation in Prague. She had spent all her life in the country, and was speedily led astray by the seductions of town life. She procured a place in a very good family. Once her old mother, who was very shabbily dressed, came to see her. The vain creature was quite ashamed of her, and ordered her to say that she was only a distant relation. No sooner did her mistress hear of the deception than she gave the servant notice to leave; for she said that so bad a daughter could never serve her properly. And she was perfectly right!
But I think it is unnecessary to caution you against acting in such a manner, for I am sure you are too generous and right-minded ever to be ashamed of your kind parents.
However, you may not be fortunate enough to enjoy the happiness of living under the roof of your dear, good parents. You may be obliged to earn your bread by serving strangers. In this case your primary duty is to obey: Strive to practice, faithfully and conscientiously, the precepts which St. Paul laid down more than nineteen hundred years ago; which hold good just as much in the present day as they did when he uttered them: “Servants, be obedient to them that are your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ: not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with a good will serving, as to the Lord, and not to men. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man shall do, the same shall he receive from the Lord.” In this spirit seek to be docile and obedient to your masters and mistresses, obeying them in all things which are not sinful. Study their interests in every way, be truthful, honest, industrious and trustworthy, and you will certainly be treated with kindness and confidence.
In conclusion I would remark that it does not speak well for a girl, if she is fond of standing too long before her looking-glass. But I know of another mirror, into which you may gaze with profit, not indeed for your body, but for your soul. refer to the holy Child Jesus at Nazareth, of whom it is said: “He was subject to them.” That is your mirror; He is your great Exemplar; learn of Him how to obey.
At Nazareth a mirror bright
Stands before the Christian’s sight:
Look therein and you will see
How obedient you should be.