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, 62.3.
Saint John Paul II (+2005) when considering the “seeking what is true and good” reminds us again, following Saint Paul, of the “possibility of error” always being present “in the judgments of our conscience.”
The “possibility of error” should be a given as we are a fallen race in a fallen world. Original Sin is a sad reality but also and essential truth of the faith (cf. Genesis 3:1-6; Psalm 51:5-7; Romans 3:23; 5:12-21; 1 John 1:8-10; CCC § 388). None of us committed it, but we are all effected by it.
Not all error is sin. In fact, we are taught in Sacred Scripture, that not all sin is deadly even though all sin is unrighteous or wicked (cf. 1 John 5:17; CCC § 1850). Mortal sin requires grave matter, committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent (cf. CCC § 1857). Mistakes, accidents happen, but they are not deliberately willed. While the expression “to err is human, to forgive is divine,” attributed to the English poet Alexander Pope (+1744), has become axiomatic, it is no less important to recall also the mystery of the incarnation, that God has become like us in all things but sin to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ, true God and true man never sinned mortally or venially. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, forgives us our sins for which He suffered and died (cf. 1 Peter 2:21; 3:18; 4:1). Humanly speaking we might consider the choice of Judas as an error (cf. Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16) but does it not play an important part in the mysterious providence of God (cf. Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6; Acts 1:12-26)?
Just because we are a fallen race in a fallen world does not mean that we don’t have reliable guides. The late Father William Most (+1999) wrote a fine little volume Free from all error: Authorship, Inerrancy, Historicity of Scripture, Church Teaching, and Modern Scripture Scholars(Libertyville, IL: Marytown, 1985) in order to reinforce our confidence in what the Lord Himself has to say to us in Sacred Scripture especially concerning the call to holiness (cf. Matthew 5:48). The Good News is that we have a redeemer, Jesus Christ. His grace and mercy are sufficient for us and our salvation (cf. Matthew 6:34; 2 Corinthians 12:9). We can show our love and gratitude toward the Lord by keeping His Commandments (cf. John 14:15; 15:10; Proverbs 7:2). The Commandments of the Lord help us to well-form our conscience and avoid sin.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr