Victor R. Claveau, MJ
During a discussion on a previous post, the subject of women’s obedience in marriage came to the fore.
Women today are constantly assaulted by values antagonistic to a Catholic way of life. The Catholic wife has a particularly difficult road to travel in learning and practicing the virtues essential to a happy marriage.
The Church, in her great wisdom, teaches female obedience to her husband. A beautiful transformation takes place in marriage when a woman begins to really live that principle.
Obedience in marriage is not slavery. It is a decision and action of free will. The wife chooses to obey her husband.
Though a husband and wife are equals in one respect, in another they are very different. The captain of a ship is “no better” than the lowest seaman swabbing the decks, in one way, but he is immeasurably “better” in another way. By virtue of his knowledge and skills, he is responsible for the lives of all on board his ship, in addition to the cargo and ship itself. Someone has to take ultimate responsibility for the decisions made for the ship and its crew. Is the captain’s position as head of the ship an assault to the dignity of the seaman? Of course not. Neither is the husband’s position as head of the house an assault on the dignity or equality of the woman.