Rachel Evans
The fourth commandment in Catholic theology is addressed to children in their relationship with their parents, requiring honour, affection, and gratitude towards elders and ancestors. It also concerns the ties of kinship between members of the extended family and the duties of pupils to teachers, employees to employers, subordinates to leaders, and citizens to their country. This commandment extends to the duties of parents, instructors, teachers, leaders, magistrates, and all who exercise authority over others or a community of persons. Honouring one's parents is seen as a way of honouring God, as parents are considered God's representatives providing for their children's physical, spiritual, and intellectual growth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Children's relationship with their parents | Honour, love, respect, and obedience |
| Children's relationship with their teachers | Respect, obedience, and seeking advice |
| Children's relationship with their employers | Respect and obedience |
| Children's relationship with their leaders | Respect and obedience |
| Citizens' relationship with their country | Respect, honour, payment of taxes, exercising the right to vote, and defending the country |
| Citizens' relationship with those who govern | Respect, honour, obedience, and criticism of directives that are contrary to the moral order |
| Citizens' relationship with each other | Charity and love |
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What You'll Learn
Honouring parents
Honouring one's parents is the central theme of the fourth commandment in Catholic theology. This commandment is addressed expressly to children in their relationship with their parents, as this bond is the most universal. It also concerns the broader ties of kinship beyond the nuclear family, extending to the extended family and even the wider community.
The commandment requires honour, affection, and gratitude towards parents and elders. It also includes duties of obedience and respect towards parents, as long as one lives under their roof. This respect is rooted in the fear of God and continues even after children leave the family home. Children are also expected to anticipate their parents' wishes, willingly seek their advice, and accept their admonitions. In old age and times of illness, loneliness, or distress, children should provide their parents with material and moral support.
The Gospel of Matthew relates that when told his mother and brothers were waiting to see him, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" Stretching his hand over his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and my sister, and mother." Pope Benedict XVI stated that this dictum of Jesus brought the fourth commandment to a new and higher level.
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Respecting elders
The fourth commandment in Catholic theology is addressed to children in their relationship with their parents, as this is considered the most universal relationship. It also concerns the ties of kinship between members of the extended family. According to the Catechism, children are expected to show honour, affection, and gratitude towards their elders and ancestors. This includes anticipating their elders' wishes, willingly seeking their advice, and accepting their just admonitions.
The commandment also extends to the duties of pupils to their teachers, employees to their employers, subordinates to their leaders, and citizens to their country and its administrators or governors. In this way, the fourth commandment illuminates other relationships in society, such as seeing our fellow citizens as children of our country and our neighbours as individuals who deserve particular attention and respect.
The duties of children towards their parents are not limited to childhood but continue into adulthood. Grown children are reminded of their responsibilities towards their parents and are expected to provide them with material and moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness, or distress. This support may include making sacrifices, such as forgoing marriage or a particular profession, to care for their parents. While obedience towards parents ceases with the emancipation of the children, respect is always owed to them.
The fourth commandment also includes the duties of parents towards their children. Parents are responsible for the moral education, spiritual formation, and evangelization of their children. They are to show respect for their children as children of God and human persons, providing proper discipline while being careful not to provoke them. Parents should also refrain from exerting pressure on their children to choose a particular profession or spouse, although this does not preclude giving judicious advice.
In summary, the fourth commandment in Catholic theology emphasises the importance of honouring and respecting elders, including parents, teachers, leaders, and ancestors. It highlights the duties of children towards their elders and the responsibilities of parents in providing guidance and support. By fulfilling these duties, individuals can contribute to the spiritual good health and growth that the Commandments are intended to promote.
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Duties of pupils to teachers
The fourth commandment in Catholic theology is addressed to children in their relationship to their parents, as this relationship is the most universal. It also concerns the ties of kinship between members of the extended family. It requires honour, affection, and gratitude towards elders and ancestors.
The commandment also extends to the duties of pupils to their teachers. This includes obedience and respect towards teachers, as well as a willingness to seek their advice and accept their admonitions. Pupils should also obey the reasonable directions of their teachers, as long as it does not go against their moral conscience. This obedience is rooted in the fear of God and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Pupils should also show gratitude towards their teachers, just as they would towards their parents. This includes giving them material and moral support, especially in times of need.
In addition, pupils have a duty to anticipate their teachers' wishes and to respect the authority that teachers have been given. This respect should continue even as pupils grow up and leave their teachers, just as respect for parents continues into adulthood.
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Employees to employers
The fourth commandment in Catholicism is addressed to children in their relationship to their parents. However, it also extends to other relationships, including that of employees to employers.
Employees are expected to fulfil their duties to their employers, just as pupils are to teachers, subordinates to leaders, and citizens to their country. This includes respecting the authority of their employers, as they are considered to be lawful superiors. This means that employees should be obedient and respectful to their employers, as they are vested with God's authority.
The duties of employers are also outlined in the fourth commandment. Employers are expected to treat their employees with kindness and fairness, and to provide them with just wages at the proper time. This is to ensure right relations between employers and employees, which presuppose a natural goodwill in keeping with the dignity of human persons concerned for justice and fraternity.
The fourth commandment also includes and presupposes the duties of those in authority, such as leaders and those who govern. These individuals are expected to exercise their authority with justice and fairness, as they have been vested with God's authority for the good of their employees.
By following the fourth commandment, employees and employers can contribute to peace and prosperity in their community and honour God's authority.
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Citizens to their country
The Fourth Commandment in Catholic theology is addressed to children in their relationship to their parents, as this is considered the most universal relationship. It also concerns the broader ties of kinship between members of the extended family. Honour, affection, and gratitude towards elders and ancestors are required by this commandment.
However, the Fourth Commandment extends beyond family relationships. It also applies to the duties of pupils to teachers, employees to employers, subordinates to leaders, and citizens to their country. This includes those who administer or govern the country, such as leaders, magistrates, and other authorities.
In the context of citizens' duties to their country, the Fourth Commandment implies a respect for legitimate authority. Citizens are obliged to obey civil authorities unless their directives contradict moral principles, fundamental human rights, or the teachings of the Gospel. This distinction between serving God and serving the political community is an important aspect of the Fourth Commandment.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies that the Church should not be confused with the political community. While the Church respects and encourages the political freedom and responsibility of citizens, it also reserves the right to pass moral judgments on political matters when necessary.
The Fourth Commandment, therefore, establishes a framework for the relationship between citizens and their country, emphasising honour, respect, and obedience within legitimate boundaries. It underscores the importance of patriotism and the welfare of one's country while also delineating the limits of civil authority over the individual conscience.
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Frequently asked questions
The fourth commandment in Catholic theology is "Honor thy father and thy mother".
The fourth commandment is about the duties of children to their parents, and the honour, affection, and gratitude they should show them.
The fourth commandment also addresses the duties of pupils to teachers, employees to employers, subordinates to leaders, citizens to their country, and to those who administer or govern it.
Observing the fourth commandment brings the reward of "long days in the land which the Lord your God gives you".
Failure to observe the fourth commandment brings great harm to communities and individuals.
