Do Catholics believe that men are the head of the household

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I don’t think anyone ignores those verses about the husband bit but it just all becomes more tricky when you think about how all this applies to real life situations.
The phrase "he shall rule over you" can be associated with negative connotations.
Does that mean as a wife you have to submit to what ever he says (providing they aren’t sins)?
 
I don’t really relate even as a description though as personally I have no innate desire to rule over a man or boss him around etc?
 
Rozellelily said:
As do bible statements such as "Yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
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Context is essentially useful. First, Bathsheba was Queen during King Solomon’s reign. Not the way we view Monarchy today. Second, the Wedding Feast at Cana, wherefore Mary said to the servants, “Do as He tells you.”

Jesus Instructs, Mary supervises.

Now that is a Mother and Son relationship. But then again, let’s take Saint Joseph. He attended to all of Mary’s needs. He listened to the Angel who instructed him, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” And instructing him to take Mary and Jesus away from King Herod. Mary also didn’t question or oppose Saint Joseph when he moved her from one place to the other. She gave herself totally to God’s providence. And Saint Joseph listened.

Saint Joseph gave his life to Mary through the instruction of the Angel. And Mary gave her life to God, by being there in that marriage with Saint Joseph as well. And did everything he was instructed by God to do. And when Jesus was found at the temple, both Joseph and Mary were there. No subservient relationship. Equals. But who spoke? Mary. Who listened and obeyed? Jesus, the Son of God.

Hence, why it’s important to read context in Scripture.
 
Rozellelily said:
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Reuben_J:
The context of wife obeying the husband is in where it is good and correct, as how the Church being the Bride obeying the Bridegroom (Jesus).
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In which way though,in real life examples,would the wife be expected to obey the husband?
When I think of the word obey,it’s hard for me to see that as different from subservient?

For example,if your husband decides that you should work (or not),does that mean you then have to obey him?
Does this teaching mean that he can just make these decisions for you without any consultation with you on the matter?
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The obedience as stated by the verses is more in a matter of spirituality, where the husband should take the leadership role in the family. Of course, in real life, husbands often fail in this, and it is the wife which carries this role. This is disodered which can result in disorderly understanding in the children.

In other matter, coming to your question, it does not mean the wife has no say in decision pertaining to the family. They are equal, and if the wife has the expertise in an area that she knows, wisdom would dictate her opinions should be listened to.

Ideally, according to the role of husband and wife respectively in a marriage, after (name removed by moderator)uts from both parties are examined, then the husband should make the decision fairly with all (name removed by moderator)uts being taken into consideration - whether she should be working or be a homemaker.

Having given roles respectively in a Christian marriage, because it comes from God, their marriage will be always blessed, remembering that God is the Lord of their marriage.

In order for the marriage to function accordingly, both husband and wife have to agree in the beginning of their marriage what their roles are to be.

Ultimately, always remember that the decision is always based on love - that one’s body no more belong to the individual but to the spouse, and the spouse loves the wife as he loves his own body.

When the pric(name removed by moderator)le of Christian marriage and love is applied in a marriage, it will not go tremendously wrong compared to when there is no principle and the marriage is disordered.

God bless.
 
As they say, the husband is not to ‘lord’ it over his wife, which is against the principle of love, honor and respect in the marriage. He is not a tyrant and the wife is not a servant or a slave. In reality, lots of things in a marriage does not need terribly difficult decision to make but are more of a common sense and are often obvious.
 
Of course not. It means that just as the wife submits to the husband, the husband submits to God. If he’s doing things the way God commands, you will never need to even worry about it.
Does disagreeing with your husband mean you’re sinning? No! To me, there’s no controversy.
 
Sugabee43 said:
Of course not. It means that just as the wife submits to the husband, the husband submits to God. If he’s doing things the way God commands, you will never need to even worry about it.

Does disagreeing with your husband mean you’re sinning? No! To me, there’s no controversy.
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This.

I have never, ever understood why this is hard to understand for some.
 
Further, I don’t think it can be stated enough how much a man who’s trying to follow God and lead his family to a good life here and eternal life with Him, relies on his wife as counsel, guidance and comfort.
 
Well, aren’t you sweet? But yes; the most charitable thing I can say is that he’s very damaged and doesn’t know HOW to have a ‘normal’ marriage. And I didn’t realize it or know the extent of the damage until after we were wedded.
 
Yours isn’t the first story I’ve heard along that vein, sadly. I’m a huge believer in pre-marriage classes and counseling because of it. (Not saying you did anything wrong if you didn’t have that, just that I think it important in this day and age.)
 
Oh, we did do premarital counseling. It just didn’t go deep enough to determine all of the past damage he incurred, and how that would affect his ability to have true emotional intimacy with a spouse. Plus, the counselors did not make it clear to either of us that his damage would be lifelong and profound.
 
Doesn’t husband mean to safeguard and take care of? I think that falls in line with Matrimony (i.e. protection of motherhood.) So a man is a head of household to safeguard, serve, and protect. Might explain why police are still mostly made up of men. Not because women can’t handle. But because men have it sort of in their genes.
 
BoyGenius said:
Doesn’t husband mean to safeguard and take care of? I think that falls in line with Matrimony (i.e. protection of motherhood.) So a man is a head of household to safeguard, serve, and protect. Might explain why police are still mostly made up of men. Not because women can’t handle. But because men have it sort of in their genes.
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Who are they protecting us from?
 
So, for example:

A guy comes home. Suddenly he can hear his door being picked. He carefully and cautiously goes over, and tries to look through the peep hole. He see’s two men standing outside, trying to force his door open. He gets his wife and children upstairs. Get’s his gun. He then tells them to discontinue opening the door. In the meantime, his wife see’s someone going around the back. He warns them he has this gun.He honestly doesn’t want to use it. He is just mainly trying to convince them to discontinue breaking in his home. After awhile, they desist and leave.

So that story is true, because the person I know had that happen to him and his family.
 
So, other men.

Those guys don’t have the protective urge in their genes.
 
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They were hampered by drugs. Men are also imperfect too. And, we know that from the fall. What men are called and made to be versus where the fallen state now, is quite contrary to the nature God made and intended them to be,

I also think on a more practical level. That men and their brutish nature, in their savagery in committing the many social ills and crimes, no women could stand up against them. It’s not a sexist angle. The fact that, back in the hay day (before woman got stronger, as they are today) - back in the hay men had a lot more strength over women. I mean evil men, not good men. Whom good men were faced up against. Consider the brutality of the Vikings. Even brutish men as they were, not even the men they attacked, could stand up against them. It was brutal savagery. But still, men fought against them.

As for today, the now, the modern era. Woman have much more freedom and a stronger role. Many who can fight off men.

Kind of a side trek story. I went on a camping trip with my family. We came to a lake. There was a man and his wife, with their children. The father was on some floating vessel out in the water. Well, one of his child came to swim towards him. But the child, after losing touching the ground, and having a hard time swimming, got terrified. The father, as my Grandma observed, was terrified himself, and could not swim. So the mother jump into the lake, swam up to her child, and brought the child back to shore.

But why is a man supposed to be the head of his household? Especially in modern times? Because, he is made that way, to be. In his presence before God. it’s not a taking away from the woman, either. They are equals. His nature, has God made him to be. The man ought to be living it out. But he faults. And a woman must take on the role many times to cover for him. Which thus he doesn’t live his role out.

I think a good reason he should be the head of his household, because men love to wonder off and do things for their own liking (golfing, playing cards with the guys, possibly going off with a mistress, etc.) Somethings are not bad. And some are (i.e. cheating on his wife.) Men when away from home, have a harder time than woman. So it’s best for him to administer over his household. It’s humility for his wife to let him take that role. Because, he needs it. It’s for his salvation to live as Christ - persona Christi to his wife and children.
 
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BoyGenius said:
Doesn’t husband mean to safeguard and take care of? I think that falls in line with Matrimony (i.e. protection of motherhood.) So a man is a head of household to safeguard, serve, and protect. Might explain why police are still mostly made up of men. Not because women can’t handle. But because men have it sort of in their genes.
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Hi. In some way, yes, and which we often think of what it should be in the secular world.

I am a husband, and I wish I am a karate expert. hehehe.

More importantly, the enemy is the Devil. Adam did not play his role, and so his wife ate the fruit. He should have just karate chopped the snake, the history of mankind might be different.

Spiritual head. Everything else will follow.

God bless.
 
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It’s not really that’s it hard to understand…it’s more the words used like obey which to most people mean a certain thing.
Why is that word used?
 
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