Obedience to our parish priest

[Brigid]

...... you must humbly obey your ecclesiastical superiors, such as the pope, your bishop, your parish priest, and those who have been commissioned by them.


St. Francis de Sales

[Patricia]

...except  if they ask us to do something against the holy Faith ( I would think  )

[Brigid]

Yeah, he says that full obedience is needed except when they want you to do something sinful. It's helpful to me to think about how obedient St. Teresa was, even tho' her priest and bishop had very different (from hers) preferences.

[Shin]

Here's a longer reading for the quote! From the famous 'Introduction to the Devout Life"

'There are two kinds of obedience, one necessary, the other voluntary. The
   first includes a humble obedience to your ecclesiastical superiors, whether
   Pope, Bishop, Curate, or those commissioned by them. You are likewise bound
   to obey your civil superiors, king and magistrates; as also your domestic
   superiors, father, mother, master or mistress. Such obedience is called
   necessary, because no one can free himself from the duty of obeying these
   superiors, God having appointed them severally to bear rule over us.
   Therefore do you obey their commands as of right, but if you would be
   perfect, follow their counsels, and even their wishes as far as charity and
   prudence will allow: obey as to things acceptable; as when they bid you eat,
   or take recreation, for although there may be no great virtue in obedience
   in such a case, there is great harm in disobedience. Obey in things
   indifferent, as concerning questions of dress, coming and going, singing or
   keeping silence, for herein is a very laudable obedience. Obey in things
   hard, disagreeable and inconvenient, and therein lies a very perfect
   obedience. Moreover, obey quietly, without answering again, promptly,
   without delay, cheerfully, without reluctance; and, above all, render a
   loving obedience for His Sake Who became obedient even to the death of the
   Cross for our sake; Who, as Saint Bernard says, chose rather to resign His
   Life than His Obedience.

   If you would acquire a ready obedience to superiors, accustom yourself to
   yield to your equals, giving way to their opinions where nothing wrong is
   involved, without arguing or peevishness; and adapt yourself easily to the
   wishes of your inferiors as far as you reasonably can, and forbear the
   exercise of stern authority so long as they do well.

   It is a mistake for those who find it hard to pay a willing obedience to
   their natural superiors to suppose that if they were professed religious
   they would find it easy to obey.

   Voluntary obedience is such as we undertake by our own choice, and which is
   not imposed by others. Persons do not choose their own King or Bishop, or
   parents -- often not even their husband; but most people choose their confessor
   or director. And whether a person takes a vow of obedience to him (as Saint
   Theresa, beyond her formal vow to the Superior of her Order, bound herself
   by a simple vow to obey Father Gratian), or without any vow they resolve to
   obey their chosen spiritual guide, all such obedience is voluntary, because
   it depends upon our own will.

   Obedience to lawful superiors is regulated by their official claims. Thus,
   in all public and legal matters, we are bound to obey our King; in
   ecclesiastical matters, our Bishop; in domestic matters, our father, master
   or husband; and in personal matters which concern the soul, our confessor or
   spiritual guide.'