Catechism Quote

...He went down with them then, and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. (Luke 51)

#2214
The divine fatherhood is the source of human fatherhood; that is the foundation of the honor owed to parents. The respect of children, whether minors or adults, for their father and mother is nourished by the natural affection born of the bond uniting them. It is required by  God's commandment.


#2217
...As they grow up, children should continue to respect their parents. They should anticipate their wishes, willingly seek their advice, and accept their just admonitions. Obedience toward parents ceases with the emancipation of the children; not so respect, which is always owed to them. This respect has its roots in the fear of God, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.


#2218
The fourth commandment reminds grown children of their responsibilities toward their parents. As much as they can, they must give them material and moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness, or distress...


As Secular Carmelites who are seeking the way of perfection, we must not only respect our biological parents, but we must respect our spiritual parents of the Carmelite Order: St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross. We must respect their teachings and their holy counsel through their writings.  We must make every effort to obey the points of the Rule they have laid out for us. 


We can have confidence that we are obeying our Heavenly Father, if we are respecting our parents, if we are obeying Church teaching, as set forth by our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, and if we are being faithful to our Carmelite promises of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience.


Let us pray for each other that we will follow the example of the one who said "Yes" in obedience to God's will: TheBlessed Virgin Mary.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie
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