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Show The Nun .and the : 'I 1 Vow of Obedience j The Third Solemn Vow of the Nun Is Holy Obediencelis j j Nature and Obligation Fully Explained j j by Felix Culpa. W (Written for the IntermoTtntain Catholic.) The Christian religion may be viewed from two different points. First, in a worldly, and, secondly, as represented in the life example and teachings of its divine founder. In the first sense the three solemn vows which constitute consti-tute the specific character of a nun stand in direct opposition to the sentiments, sen-timents, feelings and teachings of the world. Poverty is hated, chastity is sneered at and despised. As represented represent-ed in the life, example and teaching of Christ himself, we have two types of womanhood, as holy and sanctified in their special spheres as they were honorable hon-orable and venerable in their lives. One is modeled in the person of his mother, who vowed her virginity to God in Nazareth; - the other on those loyal and faithful matrons who were with him to the end. To the worldly-minded, worldly-minded, who consider this life alone worth living for and religion a mere superstition, all arguments in favor of religious orders would be unavailing, since three solemn vows which constitute consti-tute the attributes of a nun are a direct di-rect contradiction of their sentiments, thoughts and everyday life. But with those who still glory in the Christian name she is ever ready to debate the question. Poverty, a voluntary renunciation renun-ciation of the goods of this life, is in line with Christ's own life, and certainly cer-tainly is in touch with his counsel. Chastity, a free and deliberate promise to remain unmarried, is closely allied to his life of expiation. To expiate means to extinguish a guilt by suffering; suffer-ing; that Is. to satisfy, atone for, or repair the guilt of sin. This Christ did on the tree of the cross. In marriage there is no sacrifice or expiation. One who freely, honestly and voluntariiy makes a vow of chastity in Imitation of Christ becomes --a -fellow .sufferer-with .sufferer-with him. The nun, in renouncing the world and the cravings of the flesh, is spiritually united with Christ in the sacrifice of expiation. The vow is made, not as an atonement for their own Gins. but. like Christ, for the sins of the world. The vow does not antagonize an-tagonize marriage, which the church has-defined to be a sacrament, not a mere civil contract, as maintained by the Puritans. On the sanctity and sacredness of the marriage rests the family, which is the basis erf society. In the beginning "God created man in his own image; male and female created cre-ated he them." By God, too, "the twain are made one flesh." The church, true to her divine mission, pronounces her benediction on the newly married couple, tells them if they persevere in their love and affection and are faithful faith-ful to each other they will be truly happy. As well impeach St. Paul's orthodoxy, when he counselled as a preference "that all men were even as himself." that is. unmarried, as to accuse ac-cuse the church of being opposed to marriage because she sanctions a vow of chastity, which is the second attribute at-tribute of a nun. The third vow required of those who select the religious life is voluntary ! obedience to those- who are placed over I them. This vow requires submission I to the rules which guide and regulate 1 t the religious order. It means obedi ! ence to Superiors in al! things not '. ; oppnsM to God'a law. or Citholic j truth;-. They who mi'kc it rcn -unct 1 j their own will ar.d rnu.t. !iKe the sol- ! dier g-iing into the field of battle at : . ' the command of his ::up i ior offiVt r, be ' ready at all times to o where .Lhelr j superior bids th.-ni. and t-ngage in the '. work assigned t liicin. This volun- tary abnegation of seir". i-mair.. d in f ; the vow of obedience, in - hi imitation . of Christ, who was obedient unto d-ath. His will was in all 'thins.s subject to the will of hi Heavetiiy Father "Fa- ; ! ther, not my will, but thine bp done." I All are equally bound to obey God's will, but the exactions contained in - ; the vow of obedience takes in the ; j evangelical counsels. But to surrender . one's will and become a nonentity in ) t ' the world is not in keeping with the t progressive spirit of the age, say those j who are opposed to the vows made by I nuns. They say that it is both unrea- j E ?;onabIe and unjust for one to sacrifice ; their free will and submit themselves,' it may be, to the arbitrary will. whim3 , and caprices of a superior. The vow , is voluntary and the object is to try : 5 and attain perfection. To gain heaven ; all that is needed is "to keep the com- j mandments, but if thou wouldst be per- j feet go sell what thou hast, give to -I the poor, and come and follow me." j The nun who voluntarily talees the ; j three solemn vows aims at perfection, . j and for her the evangelical counsels . become a law. Others say that the church, which ; condemns seoret societies because the ' members are bound by an oath to 1 blindly obey their superior officers, and I not reveal what may take place, i3 not j, consistent with ' her own teaching In ; sanctioning blind obedience in bar gwn . members to mere human authority as represented by superiors. There is no - j j parallel. In the first. oaea tt would be j obedience to persons not authorised to j exact it. either by the state or In th- I ! name of religion. In such cases a vo-w 1 to obey , would be rah, because liable to submit parties to do a great wrong j or injustice. Such are the vows of blind obedience taken by anarchists if and kindred societies. In the vow of i . obedience taken by a nun to a superior i . she 13 safeguarded by the church. ; which gives its approval , to the re- ! jf Iigious community of which she is a I member. The authority of the church, j as represented by the holy see and the episcopate, is higher than that of the ! I superior. andshould the latter give any i - command not in keeping with the f teachings of the church, the vow of . obedience, instead of being obligatoi-y, ( forbids the subject to comply with the order. The parity between a vow of blind obedience taken under oath in a i secret society and that taken in a re- ( ; Iigious institute ceases when the object ; ' and motives of both are taken into con- . : I; sideration; also when we consider how the former lacks the protection which the latter has from the highest au- thority. which overrides that of all superiors. su-periors. Such is the nature, object and extent of the solemn vow of obedience . which constitutes th third attribute ; ; , of a nun. FELIX CULPA. : |