“That we may in all things attain the truth, that we may not err in any thing, we ought ever to hold as a general principle, that what I see white I believe to be black, if the superior authorities of the Church define it to be so.” — The Constitution of the Society of Jesus by Ignatius Loyola.

“As for holy obedience, that virtue must be preferred in every point… Let every one persuade himself, that he who lives under obedience should be moved and directed, under Divine Providence, by his superior, just as if he were a corpse, (perinde ac si cadaver esset) which allows itself to be moved and led in every direction.” — The Constitution of the Society of Jesus.

“It seems good to us in the Lord, that excepting the express vow by which the society is bound to the Pope for the time being, and the three other essential vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, no constitutions, declarations, or any order of living can involve an obligation to sin, mortal or venial:

“Unless the Superior command them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, or in the virtue of holy obedience, which shall be done in those cases or persons, wherein it shall be judged that it will greatly conduce to the particular good of each, or to the general advantage, and instead of the fear of offense, let the love and desire of all perfection succeed, that the greater glory and praise of Christ our Creator and Lord may follow.” — The Constitution of the Society of Jesus.