angels while dwelling in mortal flesh. But this conflict, this struggle, can be termed nothing but sacrifice, renunciation, self-denial.
5. The third vow is the vow of obedience. How many sacrifices does this single word imply I St. Gregory the Great once said that it is not so difficult to give up one's possessions; but it is difficult indeed to renounce oneself. By obedience one gives up oneself as one gives up one's own will.
This also involves sacrifices. They are often secret sacrifices of which no one knows anything, which the world does not know, which no one extols, but which cut to the quick the inmost soul. But how exalted are these sacrifices, these conquests of self! How richly will the Father, who seeth in secret, reward them one day.
6. Thus we see that obedience requires continual sacrifices at the hands of a Religious; not one single instant is he, if we may so speak, free from the yoke. Obedience calls him in the morning, and commands him in the evening; obedience orders everything in the house, prescribes the hours of work and the form of that work, the time for prayer and the form of prayer, the time of recreation and the length of that recreation. Obedience guides and controls his every step and movement.
Little enough is the room left for the exercise of self-will. By the practice of obedience a ceaseless war is waged against self.
