Chapter XLVIII How he spoke of the perfectly obedient under the similitude of a dead body Ona time this was what he sighed forth before his companions: “Scarce
Complete three-work composite: CCEL Fioretti; Salter 1904 Life and Miracles; Evans 1899 / Goretti 2025 Mirror
Chapter XLVIII How he spoke of the perfectly obedient under the similitude of a dead body Ona time this was what he sighed forth before his companions: “Scarce
is there one Religious in the world that doth rightly obey his supe-
rior.”
Straightway the companions said unto him: “Tell us, father, what is the perfect and the highest obedience?” And he, by way of answer, described one truly and perfectly obedient under the figure of a dead man, as thus: “Take a lifeless body and set it where you please. Ye will see that it resenteth not being moved, nor changeth its position, nor crieth out when it is let go. If that it be set upon a throne, it looketh not toward the highest, but the lowest. If it be clad in purple, then is it doubly wan. This is the truly obedient, that asketh no question wherefore he should be moved, careth not where he is placed, urgeth not that he should be changed elsewhither. Promoted to office, he holdeth his wonted humility; and the more he is honored, the more he thinketh him unworthy.”
Obediences purely and simply enjoined, not asked for, he called holy obedience. But the highest obedience, the obedience wherein flesh and blood have nought of their own, he believed to be that wherein, by divine inspiration, men do go among the infidels either for the profit of their neighbors or for the desire of martyrdom, yea, and to ask for this obedience he deemed to be right acceptable unto God.