XL.
Submission to Civil Authority
Believers are called to honor and obey civil authorities as a matter of conscience, while rejecting those who seek to dismantle the order of justice.
40. We therefore maintain that we must obey their laws and statutes, pay tributes, taxes, and other dues, and bear the yoke of subjection willingly and freely, even if they are unbelievers, provided that the sovereign rule of God remains intact. Thus, we condemn those who would reject the authorities, establish a community and confusion of goods, and overthrow the order of justice.
Read the original French
XL. Nous tenons donc qu’il faut obéir à leurs lois et statuts, payer tributs, impôts et autres devoirs, et porter le joug de subjection d’une bonne et franche volonté, encore qu’ils fussent infidèles, moyennant que l’empire souverain de Dieu demeure en son entier. Ainsi nous détestons ceux qui voudraient rejeter les supériorités, mettre communauté et confusion de biens, et renverser l’ordre de la justice.
French Confession of Faith (Confession de La Rochelle / Gallican Confession) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit