Chapter 6: The Fourth Commandment: Honor Your Father and Your Mother

Ms. DeMeuseXavier High School

Context of the Family

• Person’s physical and moral support are ideal in the context of the family

• We are meant to be in relationship • We naturally want to love other and seek their good • A couple must love each other and in turn, love

their children • Parents act as representatives of God’s authority

over them • For a family to be an oasis of happiness and charity,

each member must be rooted in Christ

Family Focus

• Pray the family Rosary • Take time to restore family life • Family meals • A healthy family contributes good citizens to

society

Why do we respect our parents?

• We are given life by our parents • We can never repay our parents for what they

have done for us • Sirach 3:1-16

Role of Parents • 1) Fairness and understanding

• Each person is a child of God • Parents have a genuine concern to help their children • All children want a closeness and trust with their parents• Parents should give children freedom and teach responsibility

• 2) Discipline • Age of reason is 7 years old • A child cannot grow up lazy or insensitive• “For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant;

later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb 12:5-11)

• 3) Instruction in the Christian Faith • Train children in a lifestyle • Reception of sacraments, prayer

Duties of Children to their Parents

• “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Col 3:20)

• Respect derives from gratitude • Children should respect their teachers whom

their parents have entrusted them • Even when a parent does not act in an

honorable way, his or her position as a parent requires respect

Respect of Children

• Extended family • It is an opportunity to take care of a family

member• A healthy spousal relationship encourages

respect from the children • The spousal love has a direct bearing on their

children’s ability to obey and honor their parents

Civil Obligations

• Authority comes from God • Leaders must be obeyed in everything that is

not immoral • To ensure harmonious relationships, there is

an established authority

Guidelines for Citizen’s Duty toward Civil Authority

• Authority has a divine origin • Christians must obey authority • Christians must use moral discretion • Disregard for just civil law warrants reprimand • Authority may impose taxes • Authority deserves respect

• * when directives are contrary to the moral order, a citizen has the obligation not to follow it

Governmental Obligations to Citizens

• The nature of civil authority is not power, but service

• It is obligated to respect the fundamental rights of the human person

• Authority is necessary for the preservation and advancement of the common good of all

• Principle of subsidiarity = the higher authority must not interfere with the lower authority without necessity (EX: state gov’t vs. parents)

Discussion

• “The success of all societies is based on the success of the family.”