Navigating Catholic Life - Part _: The Importance of Respect

JMJ

I've been thinking about Murrax's question and realized that I missed a key principle: Respect. So this article is on that topic and in particular meaning #2:

Due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights and traditions of others.

In "others" I would include Family, Friends, Authority and God (not necessarily in that order).

Thinking critically, I wondered what does "With Due regard to ..." mean?

According to Merriam-Webster (link), "with due regard to ..." means: With the proper care or concern for ...

Putting this together we have the following composite definition for respect:

With the proper care or concern for the feelings, wishes, rights, traditions, of God, authorities, family, elders, friends, and others.

So, holding a person in respect means that we will consider them as we make decisions and take action.

This becomes critical when the 'feelings, wishes, rights and traditions' run counter to our own personal desires. If we respect someone and there is no impact on other obligations, we will acquiesce to a request from them. This is what it means to respect our elders.

This means that we'll make a sacrifice out of respect for them.

In my experience, the practice of respect is needed in this era. Especially for those in authority who are personally not worthy of the office they hold.

This is a deep topic so, I may post more on this later.

P^3

Note

The Catholic Dictionary the defines respect as:

Esteem for someone or something, arising out of special regard for that object because of his, her, or its excellence. More properly it refers to persons, and it refers to things only because of the persons with whom they are associated. It implies a deference to the one respected and to that extent a sense of inferiority in the one who has or shows respect. (Etym. Latin respectus, a looking at, by or with a regard; relation, proportion; from respicere, to look at, look back upon.)(Source: Catholic Culture - Catholic Dictionary)

I am not as comfortable with this definition as it states that 'It implies a deference ...' as it simply transforms it into a authority (social or competency) issue. This definition seems more closely related to 'Honour (link)'.

Comments

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