55 Chapter Six The Virgin’s Obedience, among her virtues the sixth mentioned in the Gospel, which you should possess and cultivate in three ways, in imitation of the Virgin. The Virgin Mary was always most obedient, not only to God, but for God’s sake, also to men. Out of her obedience in order to please God, she thought, spoke, and acted in the following ways: In obedience she conceived God, and when the days of her purification were completed [cf. Lk 2:22] she presented her Son in the Temple, there offering a pair of turtle doves or pigeons. In obedience to Caesar, she went to Bethlehem, and there she declared her submission to the Emperor [cf. Lk 2:1.4-5]. According to the example and in imitation of the Virgin, devoted souls, in order to please Christ, must obey God by following the 10 Commandments, must offer turtle doves by making a confession of their sins, and must offer pigeons by loving God with their whole heart. At the completion of the day, before going to bed, they must present their work to God, rendering Him an account of it. For God’s sake they must therefore obey
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