367 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER

YOUCAT Lesson 367

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

367  To whom does the Fourth Commandment refer, and what does it require of us?

The Fourth Commandment refers in the first place to one’s physical parents, but also to the people to whom we owe our life, our well-being, our security, and our faith.  [2196-2200, 2247-2248]

My great, great grandfather Jeremiah Briggs (1812-1900), Oakfield, WI, driving a favorite family horse called “Old-Chub.”  At the left, background is his sister, Hannah Briggs, who never married.  ….. 367

What we owe in the first place to our parents—namely love, gratitude, and respect—should also govern our relations to people who guide us and are there for us.  There are many people who represent for us a God-given, natural, and good authority: foster or step-parents, older relatives and ancestors, educators, teachers, employers, superiors.  In the spirit of the Fourth Commandment we should do them justice.  In the broadest sense, this commandment applies even to our duties as citizens to the State.  325

 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”  Exodus 20:12

 “The Life of the parents is the book which the children read.”  St. Augustine (354-430)

 [2196-2200, 2247-2248]

Jesus said to his disciples: "Love one another even as I have loved you."( John 13:34.) 1

 2196 In response to the question about the first of the commandments, Jesus says: "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."( Mark 12:29-31; compare Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 10:25-28.)²

The apostle St. Paul reminds us of this: "He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."( Romans 13:8-10.)³ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you. (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy5:16.⁴–CCC

 He was obedient to them.( Luke 2:51.)⁵–CCC

The Lord Jesus himself recalled the force of this "commandment of God."( Mark 7:8-13.)⁶ The Apostle teaches: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' (This is the first commandment with a promise.) 'that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."'(Ephesians 6:1-3; compare Deuteronomy 5:16.)⁷–CCC

2197 The fourth commandment opens the second table of the Decalogue. It shows us the order of charity. God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents to whom we owe life and who have handed on to us the knowledge of God. We are obliged to honor and respect all those whom God, for our good, has vested with his authority. –CCC

2198 This commandment is expressed in positive terms of duties to be fulfilled. It introduces the subsequent commandments which are concerned with particular respect for life, marriage, earthly goods, and speech. It constitutes one of the foundations of the social doctrine of the Church. –CCC

2199 The fourth commandment is addressed expressly to children in their relationship to their father and mother, because this relationship is the most universal. It likewise concerns the ties of kinship between members of the extended family. It requires honor, affection, and gratitude toward elders and ancestors. Finally, it extends to the duties of pupils to teachers, employees to employers, subordinates to leaders, citizens to their country, and to those who administer or govern it. –CCC

This commandment includes and presupposes the duties of parents, instructors, teachers, leaders, magistrates, those who govern, all who exercise authority over others or over a community of persons. –CCC

2200 Observing the fourth commandment brings its reward: "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you."( Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16.)⁸ Respecting this commandment provides, along with spiritual fruits, temporal fruits of peace and prosperity. Conversely, failure to observe it brings great harm to communities and to individuals. –CCC

IN BRIEF

2247 "Honor your father and your mother" (Deuteronomy 5:16; Mark 7:10). –CCC

2248 According to the fourth commandment, God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents and those whom he has vested with authority for our good. –CCC