9.1 Morality: A Response to God’s Love 4th Commandment Honor your Father & Mother The Family and Beyond ©Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division

9.2 Chapter Overview The Catholic family is a domestic Church with the Holy Trinity as its model. The fourth commandment calls for harmony within families and society by honoring parents, elders, and leaders. For the past fifty years, the Information Age has influenced family life and values. Computers, video games, and the many forms of information technology impact our moral lives.

The Family and Beyond The Commandment to honor our parents also calls us to respect coaches, teachers, grandparents, caregivers, and those in authority.

The Holy Trinity as the Model for Family

Perichoresis Literally means “dancing around” in Greek Used to describe the dynamic between the members of the Holy Trinity Their love pours forth through grace. Like the Trinity, families are called to generate love and which pours forth to the common good.

V9.1 Vocabulary Domestic Church (p. 162): The family as a holy community and a microcosm of the universal Church. Youth culture (p. 177): The belief that young people have values, interests, and activities distinct from those of other age groups.

Because it directly follows the first three commandments, the Fourth Commandment has a unique significance. What does this placement imply about the significance of love within a family? The love of family flows from the love of God Honor and love for parents is the model for how we are to treat God. This commandment teaches us to regard God as the supreme authority in our lives. This obedience and respect extends to all those who have been given authority for the greater good.

How is the 4th Commandment distinct from the first three Commandments? The fourth commandment opens the second tablet of the Decalogue It is the first commandment that deals with our relationship with others; those closest to us. Its placement after the first tablet, shows that love of God is the basis for our love of neighbor.

Chapter 9 We honor our parents with: Respect Gratitude Obedience Assistance

RESPECT We should listen to our mother and father with an open and patient attitude. We should do our best to try to understand their point of view

GRATITUDE We should thank our parents for the gift of life. We should show our parents that we appreciate all they do for us.

OBEDIENCE We should trust our parents judgement, even when we don’t see their viewpoint. Exception to obedience: when a parent asks us to do something that is morally wrong.

ASSISTANCE We should help with chores and other family tasks. Grown children must take care of parents in old age.