George Matulaitis Journal

freely within the framework of their delegated authority. The Superior General should even require local superiors to show initiative and a certain independence of action. The proper task of the Superior General is to supervise and coordinate everything and everyone; he should try to encourage and help everyone, to advise them if necessary, to make sure that each person and task is moving along the right track. He should direct and coordinate everything in such a way that it may lead to the greater glory of God and serve the needs of the Church and the salvation of souls. We will have to deliberate again and again, with the the help of our Lord, how best to reconcile personal initia- tive and independence of action with humility, docility, and obedience. The most important attribute of a good superior should be his intimate union with God not only in prayer, but also in the performance of his duties as he goes about his work. Only when he is able to rise above the here and now and look at everything from the perspective of eternity will he learn to evaluate all things properly and weigh and decide matters impar- tially in the light of God’s greater glory. Only then will he be capable of governing others according to the will of God, because he will desire noth- ing other than the fulfillment of God’s will in all things. The superior should himself be the model of all the virtues. He should be the first to do whatever he tells or commands others to do. His words will carry weight only when they are backed by good example. His subjects will listen to him only when they see him practicing in his own life what he preaches for the edification of others. An ardent love for the Congregation and for all its members, for our Mother the holy Catholic Church, and for all people should occupy first place among the various virtues required of a superior. He should try to be all things to all men and to be prepared, if need be, to give his life for the Church and for his Community. He should mortify and control his passions so that they would not influence him or cloud his mind; he should maintain a tranquility of spirit in all things and never make decisions until he has regained his inner peace. “Non in commotione spiritus Dei” 3 Reg.19,11: The Spirit of God cannot be felt in commotion and restlessness. He should unite kindness and amiability with energy and the necessary strictness and firmness of spirit. He should not permit anything to divert him from whatever he thinks will promote the greater glory of God and please Him most. 71