Chapter V — On the particular duties of one's state and the evangelical counsels

§ 1. On the duties of one's state

1. What are the duties of one's state?

By the duties of one's state are meant those particular obligations which each has by reason of the state, condition, and office in which he finds himself.

2. Who has imposed on the various states their particular duties?

God Himself has imposed on the various states their particular duties, because these derive from His divine commandments.

3. Explain to me by some example how the particular duties derive from the ten commandments.

In the fourth commandment, under the name of father and mother, are understood also all our superiors; and therefore from that commandment derive all the duties of obedience, of love, and of respect of inferiors toward their superiors, and all the duties of vigilance which superiors have toward their inferiors.

4. From which commandments derive the duties of artisans, of merchants, of administrators of another's goods, and the like?

The duties of fidelity, sincerity, justice, and equity which they have derive from the seventh, the eighth, and the tenth commandments, which forbid every fraud, injustice, negligence, and duplicity.

5. From which commandment derive the duties of persons consecrated to God?

The duties of persons consecrated to God derive from the second commandment, which orders the fulfillment of vows and promises made to God, since such persons have in this way bound themselves to the observance of all, or some, of the evangelical counsels.

§ 2. On the evangelical counsels

6. What are the evangelical counsels?

The evangelical counsels are certain means suggested by Jesus Christ in the holy Gospel for attaining to Christian perfection.

7. Which are the evangelical counsels?

The evangelical counsels are: voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity, and obedience in everything that is not sin.

8. What is the use of the evangelical counsels?

The evangelical counsels serve to make easier the observance of the commandments and to better assure eternal salvation.

9. Why do the evangelical counsels make easier the observance of the commandments?

The evangelical counsels make easier the observance of the commandments because they help us to detach the heart from the love of goods, of pleasures, and of honors, and so keep us away from sin.