Pope at general audience: honour
parents even with their imperfections
Pope Francis dedicated the catechesis of his general
audience of Wednesday, September 19, to the fourth commandment: "Honour
your father and mother".
“Honouring parents leads to a long happy life,” said Pope
Francis during Wednesday’s general audience, pointing out that the word
“happiness” in the Ten Commandments appears only in relation to parents.
In fact, the fourth commandment a promise – “so that you may live long
and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Through the help of human sciences, the Pope said, we are
able to understand whether someone has grown up in a healthy and balanced
environment or has experienced abandonment or violence in childhood.
Imperfect parents
The Holy Father said that the fourth commandment does not
require mothers and fathers to be perfect, and speaks about the children’s
duty regardless of their parents’ merits. Even if not all
parents are good and not every childhood is happy, all children can be happy,
because the achievement of a full and happy life depends on being grateful to
those who have given birth.
Model saints
Regarding this, the Pope pointed to several examples of
saints and Christians who despite a painful childhood have lived a “luminous
life”, thanks to Jesus Christ, they have reconciled with life. One such example
is the 19-year old Italian Nunzio Sulprizio, who will be declared a
saint next month. He died reconciled with much pain and many things,
because his heart was serene and he never denied his parents.
Saint Camillus de Lellis who built a life
of love and service from a disorderly childhood; Saint Josephine
Bakhita was raised in horrible slavery; Blessed Carlo Gnocchi was
orphaned and poor; and SaintJohn Paul II lost his mother at an
early age.
Born again
Whatever be a man’s past, the Pope said, the fourth
commandment gives us the orientation that leads to Christ in whom the true
Father is manifested who invites us to "be born again from on
high". Hence the “enigmas of our lives are enlightened when we discover
that God has always prepared us for a life as His children, where every act is
a mission received from Him."
Through grace our wounds gain power to discover that the
true enigma is no longer "why", but "for whom?"
Thus everything is reversed and becomes precious and
constructive.
In the light of love, our sad and painful experience becomes
a source of health for others. Hence we can begin honouring our parents
with the freedom of adult children and with a merciful acceptance of
their limits.
Insult, never
In conclusion, Pope Francis urged Christians to visit their
parents in their old age, and also never to insult the parents of
others using ugly and abusive words, saying they have given life.
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