Rules for a true sense of the Church
Thinking with the Church
To be right in everything, we should always be ready to believe that what seems white to me is black, if the hierarchical Church so defines it.
1.Obedience and praise
Setting aside all judgement of our own, we should keep our minds ready and prompt to obey in everything the true Spouse of Christ our Lord, our holy Mother the hierarchical Church.
2.Sacraments and liturgy
Praise confession to a priest and receiving the Most Holy Sacrament. Praise hearing Mass often, as well as hymns, psalms and prayers.
3.Religious life
Praise highly religious orders, virginity and continence, and marriage less than any of these.
4.About those in authority
We should be quicker to praise their rules and recommendations than to criticise them, because speaking ill of them in their absence, before simple people, causes more scandal than good.
5.Avoid comparisons
We should not compare people living now with the blessed of the past (saying “he knows more than St Augustine” or “she is another St Francis”), because it is a great injury to the saints.
Adapted from the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola (1548).