P 594
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
III. THE DUTIES OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS
Ernest Andre T. Gequillo
Group 5
Duties of children in the Family:
• They also help run errands. Children are to obey and
respect their parents and older ones in the family.
Children can help take care of their parents if a parent
(or parents) is sick, handicapped, or elderly. Children
help protect and keep the good name of the family.
Duties of parents in the Family:
• Parents are responsible to provide the necessary food,
clothing, shelter, and medical care insofar as they are
able. They are equally responsible for providing sound
education and sound knowledge of their religion as well
as the moral training of their children.
2215
Respect for parents (filial piety) derives from gratitude toward those
who, by the gift of life, their love and their work, have brought their
children into the world and enabled them to grow in stature, wisdom
and grace. “With all your heart honor you father, and do not forget the
birth pangs of your mother. Remember that through your parents you
were born; what can you give back that equals their gift to you?”
Explanation 2215
• We have to respect our parents because they have
given us what we needed in our lives and we must not
forget the pain our mother have experienced when she
gave birth to us. Parents are a form of God on this planet
which we live in. Aside from bringing you into the world,
parents sacrifice time, energy and effort in order to make
sure your needs and wants are met. Showing them that
you appreciate their efforts demonstrates a level of
respect towards them.
2216
Filial respect is shown by true docility and obedience. “My son, keep your
father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching . . . .
When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch
over you and when you awake, they will talk with you.” “A wise son
hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”
Explanation 2216
• There are many reasons why you should always listen to
your parents. Parents know us better than anyone. No
one has a better opportunity to know what you need than
your parents. Parents want to give advice all the time
because they want to protect you from making the
mistakes they made or that someone they know made.
2217
As long as a child lives at home with his parents, the child
should obey his parents in all that they ask of him when it is
for his good or that of the family. "Children, obey your parents
in everything, for this pleases the Lord.“ Children should also
obey the reasonable directions of their teachers and all to
whom their parents have entrusted them. But if a child is
convinced in conscience that it would be morally wrong to
obey a particular order, he must not do so.
Explanation 2217
• We must obey everything they ask for us because it is for our good
in the family. We must also obey our teachers because it is what we
do in our school and we mustn't be confused if we are to obey a
particular order from our parents because if we do so, we must not
do that particular order. The parents would be pleased with their
children and the children would probably stay out of trouble.
Also, children who disobey their parents probably will disobey their
teachers and others in authority in their lives; which can have dire
consequences. Rules and regulations are designed to keep us out
of trouble.