Section 3 | Rule #6: Signs that the Evil Spirits are Conditioning the Custos to be a Hireling

Let the Custos be aware that though he is a shepherd who stands post at the threshold of the world and his family, the evil spirits will make every attempt to entice him with prestige, prominence, accolades, honors, the addiction of work, human respect, a life of comfort, disordered sensuality, and love of riches. If he succumbs to any of these distractions in a habitual manner–without repenting–he will become a hireling who upon encountering hardship in his marriage and family, financial difficulties, or the realization of the lack of worldly success in all of its forms, will flee from his post by being negligent of his vocational duties, being apathetic toward his family, by being spiritually slothful in his response to God, or by leaving his post as guardian of his family altogether. If any of these characteristics are increasing in the Custos, let him be aware that the evil one is at hand, bent on the ruin of his domestic church.

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

Ite ad Joseph