Section 3 | Rule #3: Regarding the Custos’ Three Modes of Dominion

Contained in the action of granting Adam dominion (Hebrew: radah, to prevail against) over the garden; commanding him to till (Hebrew: abad, to cherish) and keep (Hebrew: shamar, to protect) it; while also expecting him to transmit the divine commands, particularly, not to partake from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (obedience to God and his determination of good), are the threefold modes by which the Custos expresses his dominion for the purpose of prevailing over evil and honoring God: protector of his family (against evil), provider for his family (of the good things of God) and priest of his family (transmit the commands and teachings of God). The Custos exercises his dominion of his domestic church in these three modes for the purpose and hope of his family to relive, reveal, and reflect the eternal exchange of divine persons in the Trinity which is unity in distinction.

As God in Himself is eternal self-giving love, so also, the Custos’ dominion is embodied by his gift of self in these three modes (protector, provider, priest) for the purpose of inspiring his family to reflect and relive this divine self-giving love that fosters unity. By doing so he prevails against the kingdom of evil.

Devin Schadt | Executive Director of the Fathers of St. Joseph

Ite ad Joseph