Family

Topic 13
General Understanding
Family: as the vital/basic unit of human society.
-a stable state depends on how strong the
smallest unit within it,
- state should protect its families because its
future depends on how families are developed
hence:
● No state has the right to intrude on the basic cell of society, the family, by its
regulations or to question its right to exist.
● No state has the right to deprive the family of its fundamental functions,
especially in the area of EDUCATION. On the Contrary, every STATE has the
duty to support families with its assistance & to ensure that its material needs are
met.
Primary Family
Single-Parent Family
Extended Family
Blended Family
FAMILY in GOD’s PLAN
What place is the Family in God’s plan of creation?

● A MAN and a WOMAN are MARRIED to each other,

together with their CHILDREN, form a FAMILY. (CCC
2202)

● God wills that the love of the spouses, if possible,

should produce children. These Children, who are
entrusted to the protection & care of their parents,
have the same dignity as their parents. (CCC 2203)
Nature of Family
a. Family as a Covenant Relationship (CCC1660)
- this understanding recalls God who created ADAM & EVE out of His

LOVE and thereby calling them to mutual love (Gen 2:21-24).

●It emphasizes that man and woman are created for one another, to
unite & become one flesh in COMMUNION OF LOVE that grounds
their marriage and family.
● Our family is the “COVENANT” where we truly belong and find
our “HOME”.
LOVE + FAMILY = HOME
Gen. 2: 21-24)

“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall

upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of
his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the
rib that the Lord God ha taken from the man He
made into a woman… therefore a man leaves his
father and his mother and cling to his wife, and
they become one flesh…”
Nature of Family
b. Family as a First and Vital Cell of Society

- This understanding emphasizes that the family grounds and

continually nourishes the existence and development of society
itself through its SERVICE TO LIFE by BIRTH and the
EDUCATION of its YOUTH in SOCIAL VIRTUES.

● Christian understanding of Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMZ8YyBEqyw&list=RDbMZ8YyBEqyw&start_radio=1
Nature of Family
c. Family as a Domestic Church (CCC 1656)

-it is the church in the home

-it is the first school of discipleship

•As a Christian Family, all families are invited to:

1.Strengthen one another in faith
2.Outdo one another with their zeal for God
3.Develop the spirit of charity through loving service.
Duties of Family Members
● The IV Commandment: HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.
It demands Filial respect to our parents by showing our love and
gratitude.
● Children are gifts from God and not a property of parents

This emphasize on the duties of parents to:

● provide for their children needs
● guide them in faith and morals
● create for them an atmosphere of personal growth (Col.
3:21 / Eph 6:4)
The Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
● Holy Family - model of Christian families.

● The Holy Family began their life believing that God

was truly present with them. Even if they
experienced hardship, the Holy Family stays together
united.
● When Jesus started his ministry, his Mother Mary
must have understood that her son must leave her
to follow the will of his Father. Despite all of these
challenges, the love they have for each other was
the source of their strength.
● A Healthy family is one that deals
satisfactorily with brokenness and
conflict.
● Make Christ as the center of your
relationship in the family.