Chapter CXI. How, for true obedience' sake, he ever had a warden

Of Obedience

151. In order that he might make gain in many ways and turn the whole present time into merit, this most prudent merchant chose to be driven with the bridle of obedience and to submit himself to the government of another. Therefore not only did he resign the office of General, but, for the sake of the greater advantage of obedience, he asked for a good warden for himself whom he might specially honour as his Superior. So he said to brother Peter Cathanii, to whom he had previously promised holy obedience: "I ask thee for God's sake to entrust thy charge as concerning me to one of my companions, to whom, as to thyself, I may yield reverent obedience. I know (he said) the fruit of obedience and I know that to one who has put his neck under the yoke of another, no time passes without gain." And so his earnest request was granted and he remained in subjection everywhere until his death, always reverently obeying his own warden. And he once said to his companions: "Among other things which God's mercy has deigned to grant me, it has bestowed on me this grace, that I would obey a novice of an hour's standing, were he assigned to me as warden, as carefully as I would any one however ancient or discreet. A subject (he said) ought to consider his Superior not as a man, but as Him for whose sake he is in subjection: and the more contemptible the ruler, the more pleasing the humility of the subject who obeys."