Article I. On the Pursuit of Acquiring Perfection

I. Nature of the obligation. The pursuit of acquiring perfection, or tendency toward perfection, consists in this, that someone: 1st, observes the means which oblige under grave sin; 2nd, does not contemn any means annexed to his state, even if not imposed under grave sin; 3rd, habitually observes the means which do not oblige under grave sin, but nevertheless are annexed to the state by force either of vows, or of rules and constitutions, or of ecclesiastical precept (St. Alphonsus IV, 9-11; cf. St. Thomas 2-2, q. 186, article 9).

II. The existence of the obligation is deduced both from can. 488, 1st (n. 1212) and 593 (n. 1215), and from the fact that a religious "by force of profession is held to advance in some way in the way of perfection. Because by force of profession he is held to will to preserve his state, which is of perfection or of those tending to perfection, although according to itself it is not of precept but of counsel; but this is intrinsically to will to tend toward perfection" (St. Alphonsus IV, 9; cf. St. Thomas 2-2, q. 186, articles 1 and 2).

Corollary I. A religious sins gravely against the obligation of tending toward perfection: 1st, who does not observe a means which obliges under grave sin; 2nd, who from contempt neglects a means annexed to his state, even if it is not imposed under grave sin (St. Thomas 2-2, q. 186, articles 2 and 9; St. Alphonsus IV, 10).

Corollary II. He sins lightly against the obligation of tending toward perfection who habitually neglects means which are annexed to the state, but do not oblige under grave sin (St. Alphonsus IV, 11).

Corollary III. He does not sin against the obligation of tending toward perfection: 1st, who is not yet actually perfect (St. Thomas 2-2, q. 186, article 1, ad 3; St. Alphonsus IV, 9); 2nd, who now and then does not observe a means which is annexed to the state but does not oblige under grave sin; 3rd, who neglects means not annexed to his state (St. Alphonsus IV, 9).