31. The family in God's plan

31. THE FAMILY IN GOD'S PLAN THE COMMANDMENT TO HONOR ONE'S FATHER AND MOTHER REFLECTS THE FAMILY'S ROLE IN THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY Compendium 455-465 Dt 5:16 Sirach 3:2-7,12-14 1. The family is the "original cell" of society and is not a human invention but rather a gift from God for the benefit of the spouses and procreation and formation and education of children. The fourth commandment, “Honor your father and mother”, encompasses the entire plan of God for marriage and family life. 2. The family is the Domestic Church where faith and virtue are imparted and develop. The basic lessons of, prayerfulness, love and service to one another, truth, honesty, discipline, and respect are inculcated and reinforced in the family. 3. In a healthy family children learn an appropriate understanding of authority, the common good, citizenship, rights and dignity of everyone. 4. By word and example children learn how to relate to each other, family and society. 5. Parents must “waste” time with their children everyday to prepare and guide them to holiness and openness to God’s calling. 6. The Eucharist must be at the center of family life just as it is at the center of Church life. 7. The Government must protect public morality, parents rights, and private property but only in rare and extreme cases is it legitimate for government to intervene in family affairs. 8. Eventually children must care for their parents when they are in need, physically, emotionally and spiritually. 9. Finally our love for Christ must exceed our love for parents and children. 10. Families are not called so much to perfection as to holiness in Christ. The Holy Family of Jesus , Mary and Joseph is the model. Each member of the family must strive for holiness without judging the other members. Mercy and joy must be the constant atmosphere of the family. Forgiveness and starting again must be the modus operandi of the family. 11. We must be aware that the family is under attack by a fierce worldliness and selfishness from without and from within. Often relatives, friends and neighbors can be the greatest threat to a family because we least expect it and are therefore most vulnerable to it. The family that prays together can overcome these threats.