Course XLIV - Teaching 6: Practical Qualities of Superiors

The Superior has to lead spiritually the Sons entrusted to him, but at the same time he must possess practical qualities to offer wellbeing to his Community.
A Superior has to be capable, economic, enterprising, subordinate, skillful and of considerable common sense.
A capable Superior is everywhere, sees all and is ready to solve all. He knows any work and how to achieve the, from the most insignificant to the most important. He can lead the works just in this way. His knowing glance must be enough for the perfect progress of everything.
A Superior has to be economic, but not stingy, because to possess everything that is necessary and to use what is indispensable becomes the quintessence of the Providential Economy.
So as he is wise in Theology and Mystical Asceticism, so he knows all in regard to kitchen, pantry, sewing, et cetera. If he is not aware of conditions and quantity of edibles in the pantry, and does not care about proper and healthy food for the Sons, his Community is weak, and a strong body is very helpful to a strong soul. Moreover he has to know the especial needs of every one of them, and their endurance.
A Superior has to be enterprising and able so solve efficiently any task and problem of the house. When a Community is not prepared to earn its living, it must investigate and find where the fault is, and must solve it or find new means of subsistence to the Sons.
Also he has to study the peculiar capacity of every Son and every one must occupy a place to develop better.
A Superior is subordinate in all because to command is in Cafh to be subject to all and to depend on all.
A Superior must be entirely devoted to the Divine Law of his Community and must strictly respond to it; he never does what he wants, but what is better to all. He depends on his Vows, of his Superiors, of the Regulation and of the Interpretation. In fact, he is the father in the Community, but also a servant of all. And regarding his particular needs, he should depend on the Sons in charge of several dependencies, in order to be an exemplar in all.
Over all, a Superior has to possess considerable common sense. This is an almost divine gift, acquired through suffering and years of experience. He controls and measures any act of government.
A practical Superior will try to be cultivated, educated and discreet.
His duty is to study and meditate on the Teaching, and to follow those courses that are necessary for a complete knowledge of his appointment. Even he is not authorized to study for personal pleasure; he should follow just those studies that he needs to know in depth.
Once a Son asked his Superiors what studies he would be authorized to follow, and they replied: “Study everything that may be useful to those souls entrusted to you; the rest is vain knowledge”.
Besides, he should watch over every Son to have the suitable teaching and facility to study those matters that complement their work.
The Library of his Community should contain good spiritual books and specialized texts connected with his Community.
Moreover, his concern has to be a fit Teaching to the Sons, and facility to study those subjects that complement their practical work in the Community.
A Superior has to educate continuously and properly the Sons and be an exemplar. Through a good education, the Son acquires more dignity and spirituality, and conquers the heart of other Sons, of those who depend on Works of Cafh and of acquainted persons. A Superior removes from him and from the Sons any rudeness, joke, innuendo, bad manners and anything eventually unpleasant to others.
A Superior has to be highly discreet. Over all, he puts a shield over his heart.
To be truly discreet in relation to the Sons, he has not any personal preference or aversion, and never shows his emotional weakness, especially when a Son is undervalued.
A discreet Superior is circumspect in his corrections and deep observer of the state of mind of the Sons; he order without haughtiness or wrath, and never expects a word of understanding or comfort from the Sons; and never expresses his inclination or weakness.
So, the practical qualities of a Superior have to be centered on the great sentence of Saint Therese: “The head on heaven and the feet on the earth”.