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Rule

St Columbanus, tr. Metlake, 1914; abridged

Chapter 1

At the first word of a superior all must rise to obey, because by obeying him they obey God, according to the word of the Lord Jesus: “He that heareth you, heareth me”.¹ If, therefore, any one hearing a word of command does not rise straightway he shall be adjudged disobedient. Whoever contradicts incurs the crime of contumacy; he is not only guilty of disobedience but by opening the gateway of refractoriness to others he becomes the seducer of many. If anyone obeys with grumbling, his obedience, not coming from the heart, is disobedience: therefore, until he shows his good will, his work is of no avail.²

To what limits should obedience be carried? Obedience unto death is certainly enjoined on us, because Christ was obedient to His Father for us unto death.³ “Let this mind be in you,” says the Apostle, “which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient (to His Father) unto death, even to the death of the cross.”⁴ The true disciple of Christ must obey in all things; no matter how hard or distasteful the task laid upon him may be, he must set about its fulfillment with zeal and joy, because only such obedience is acceptable to the Lord, who says: “He that taketh not up his cross, and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me”.⁵ Wherefore also He says of the disciple worthy of Him: “Where I am, there also shall My minister be with Me”.⁶

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