My dear parishioners,
Peace! Under headings of Judgment, Formation, Choice in Accord, Erroneous Judgment and In Brief, the Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses “conscience” in twenty-nine passages. Here we consider CCC, 1785.
When forming our conscience, the Word of God is the light for our path (cf. Psalm 119:105). Sacred Scripture provides several lists of sins which can help us to form our conscience, e.g. Romans 1:28-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-6; 1 Timothy1:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:2-5; Revelation 22:12-16; Matthew 25:41-46 (cf. CCC, 1852).
We assimilate the Word of God in faith and prayer. If we never read or listen to Sacred Scripture how can we assimilate it? How can it serve as a path for our lives? Lectio divina is a prayerful way of reading Sacred Scripture.
When our conscience is formed by the Word of God and we have assimilated it in faith and prayer we put it into practice. It is one thing for us to read or listen to Sacred Scripture and another for us to put it into practice (cf. James 1:22).
We must examine our conscience before the Cross of the Lord who died for our sins (cf. Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 3:18). How can we look upon Christ crucified and fail to recognize our sins, the cause of His Passion (cf. CCC, 598)?
The gifts of the Holy Spirit help us to form our conscience. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are recorded in Sacred Scripture Isaiah 11:1-2 (cf. CCC, 1831). With the gift of wisdom, how can we not recognize our sins? With the gift of understanding, how can we not recognize our sins? The gift of knowledge can help us to recognize our sins, to know of God’s loving mercy and justice It takes the gift of fortitude to confront our sins, to avoid sin, and to well confess them. The gift of piety can help us to keep all of the commandments of God, for love of Him, especially the first three, which treat Himself, His Name, and His day.
The witness and advice of others help us to form our conscience. Here, we should include the witness and advice of the Saints. We know they are the friends of God and we should want to be the friends of God. If we don’t know the saints, how can we ask their intercession? If we don’t know the saints, how can we consider what they would do in our shoes?
The Catechism cites the Decree on Religious Liberty, Dignitatis humanae (7 December, 1965), of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) when considering the formation of conscience and the role Mother Church has by divine will in the formation of conscience. The authoritative, sure and certain teaching of Mother Church help us to form our conscience (cf. DH, 14). This is because what is bound on Earth by Mother Church is bound in Heaven (cf. Matthew 16:19; 18:18).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr