455. What does the fourth commandment require? (part 1)

455. What does the fourth commandment require?  (part 1) 

(Comp 455) It commands us to honor and respect our parents and those whom God, for our good, has vested with his authority.

“In brief”

(CCC 2247) "Honor your father and your mother" (Deut 5:16; Mk 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. 

To deepen and explain

(CCC 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" (Mk 12:29-31; cf. Deut 6:4-5; Lev 19:18; Mt 22:34-40; Lk 10:25-28). 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" (Rom 13:8-10). (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.  

Reflection

(CCC 1897) "Human society can be neither well-ordered nor prosperous unless it has some people invested with legitimate authority to preserve its institutions and to devote themselves as far as is necessary to work and care for the good of all" (John XXIII, PT 46). By "authority" one means the quality by virtue of which persons or institutions make laws and give orders to men and expect obedience from them. (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. [IT CONTINUES]

(The question: What does the fourth commandment require? continues)