My dear parishioners,
Peace! In other bulletins (4 December, 2016-11 June, 2017) we have considered the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on “conscience.” We then turned to Saint John Paul II’s encyclical letter Veritatis splendor (6 August, 1993) which addresses fundamental moral issues, including “conscience” more than one hundred times. These reflections were begun earlier (6 April, 2018-30 May, 2018). Here we now consider a passage from Veritatis splendor, 58.
Saint John Paul II (+2005) when considering the “judgment of conscience” cites Saint Bonaventure (+1274; Il Librum Sentent.Dist. 39, a.1,q. 3) to the effect that “conscience is like God’s herald and messenger; it does not command things on its own authority, but commands them as coming from God’s authority, like a herald when he proclaims the edict of the king. This is why conscience has binding force.” The Seraphic Doctor is not the only saint cited by the Holy Father. Saint Augustine is cited fifteen times. Saint Thomas Aquinas (+1274) is cited eleven times. Saint Alphonsus Maria de’Liguori (+1787) is cited twice. Saint Leo the Great (+461) is cited once, as is Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman (+1890). This is another way we are able to be on solid ground in both examining and forming our conscience: standing on the shoulders of giants.
When considering conscience as a “herald and messenger” from God, we can imagine the Archangel Gabriel and the Prophets like Isaiah and Daniel and Ezekiel and John the Baptist who all proclaimed and declared the word of the Lord. The followers of Jesus Christ do not await any further public revelation (cf. Dei Verbum, 4). All public revelation has ceased with the death of the last Apostle. Jude 3 reminds us that the deposit of faith has been “once delivered to the saints” this includes the moral doctrine. As there has been a development of doctrine regarding the Holy Trinity (e.g. divine processions) and the Incarnation (e.g. hypostatic union) and the Sacraments (e.g. matter and form) so too has the moral doctrine developed over time. When Moses was atop Mount Sini there were no atomic let alone thermo-nuclear weapons of mass destruction. While there have been various “developments” in the manner of administering abortions since the days of Hippocrates (+370BC) the killing of the unborn is still a wicked “unspeakable crime” regardless of the means because it is “opposed to life itself” (cf. Gaudium et spes, 27.3; 51.3). Murder is against the Fifth Commandment regardless as to how it is done (cf. Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17).
Mother Church acts as a messenger and herald of the Lord, helping us to form our conscience, calling out both sin and grace. She does so to help us live holy lives. God wills not the death of the sinner, but that we be converted and live according to His grace and will (cf. Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11). The Commandments of God are His edicts. They are inscribed upon our hearts.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr