Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time.

My dear Parishioners,

Peace! There are ten (10) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Fourth Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2252.

The Fourth Commandment “Honor your father and your mother” has many implications. What follows are six considerations regarding the education of children, in light of the Fourth Commandment.

This Commandments highlights the role of parents as the primary educators of their children. While Catholic Schools or public schools engage daily in reading, writing and arithmetic, the teachers at the various schools participate in the primary role of parents. Among the blessings of Catholic Schools is the inclusion of a “fourth R” in the curriculum, namely religion.

This Commandment enjoins parents to teach faith to their children. The best way to teach faith is to believe. Faith is a “theological virtue” (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:13). Parents are to teach their children to believe in God and all that God has revealed. Here, of course Sacred Scripture holds pride of place, as God has revealed Himself of old through the prophets and in the fullness of time through His Son (cf. Hebrews 1:1). The important role of Sacred Tradition and the Sacred Magisterium should not be diminished in any way in handing on the faith (cf. DV, 10).

This Commandment enjoins parents teach their children to pray. The best way to teach prayer is to pray. There is a difference between “prayer” and “prayers.” One prays prayers. The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and all of the sacraments are all prayers. To pray is to lift our hearts and minds to God, in adoration, contrition, thanksgiving and supplication, asking blessings for ourselves and our neighbors.

This Commandment enjoins parents teach virtue to their children. The best way to teach virtue is by being virtuous. The root of the word “virtue” is the Latin word vir which means “man” and relates to our human nature. The Catechism highlights for us the definition of virtue as a “habitual and firm disposition to do good” (cf. CCC 1833; see also ST I-II Q. 55, A. 3). The stable disposition to do good, even in the face of difficulty, with joy and ease, (another definition of virtue) may be considered variously, through the Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, Justice), the Moral Virtues (Humility, Patience, Diligence, Generosity, Temperance, Brotherly Love, Chastity), as well as the Theological Virtues accompanying Faith (namely Hope and Charity). Consideration of the vices opposite these virtues is another way to help inculcate the virtues.

This Commandment requires parents provide physical blessings to their children in all possible manner. After the gift of life, foremost among these physical blessings should be the basics of life, namely food, clothing and shelter. We need not have caviar or high end fashion or exotic homes, but basic necessities.

Further spiritual blessings provided by parents to their children include their cultural patrimony.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr