The superior is to be obeyed not because he is
prudent, or good, or qualified by any other gift of God, but because he holds
the place and the authority of God, as Eternal Truth has said: He who hears
you, hears me; and he who rejects you, rejects me [Luke 10:16]. Nor on the
contrary, should he lack prudence, is he to be the less obeyed in that in which
he is superior, since he represents Him who is infallible wisdom, and who will
supply what is wanting in His minister, nor, should he lack goodness or other
desirable qualities, since Christ our Lord, having said, the scribes and the
Pharisees sit on the chair of Moses, adds, therefore, whatever they shall tell
you, observe and do: but do not act according to their works [Matt. 23:2-3].
--St. Ignatius Loyola, Letter to the Members of the
Society in Portugal, 1556
