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, 1784.
The education of conscience is a lifelong task. Because of our fallen human nature, due to Original Sin, our need for education is continuous, not only in the natural sphere but also in the supernatural sphere, not only religiously but morally as well. Sacred Scripture, the Cross of the Lord, the sure and certain teaching of Mother Church (magisterium) as well as the lives of the Saints are all valuable tools for the lifelong education of conscience, namely, that there is good and evil, that we can know what is good and evil, that we should desire and do good and despise and avoid evil, repenting evil done.
Conscience awakens from the earliest years of childhood knowledge of and practice of the interior law. The age of seven has often been the reference point for the “age of reason.” The ability to discern right from wrong is normally present even from this early age.
Prudent education of conscience teaches virtue. Virtue is the stable disposition to do good even in the face of difficulty with joy and ease and is the basis all the moral doctrine of the Church (cf. Summa Theologiae I-II, Q. 55, A. 4 ; II-II Q. 1-170). The Latin term virtus signifies courage or manliness and is the root of our English term. Vice, on the contrary, is a stable disposition to do evil without remorse (Summa Theologiae I-II Q. 71, A. 1).
Prudent education of conscience prevents or cures fear. In Sacred Scripture we read that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). If our conscience is clear we need not fear the just judgment of God. When we do the good we can each day towards God, our neighbors and self then we should be at peace without any fear.
By promoting the virtue of generosity, prudent education of conscience prevents or cures selfishness, which is a vice. By promoting the virtue of humility, prudent education of conscience prevents or cures pride which is a vice. Prudent education of conscience prevents or cures resentment(s) arising from guilt. Prudent education of conscience prevents or cures feelings of complacency born of human weakness and faults. Complacency leads to indifference, as if nothing matters, including our vices and sins. While sometimes we actually seek out to commit sin(s) and vicious behavior, other times we commit various faults merely out of the human weakness which flows from Original Sin.
The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart. We know from Sacred Scripture that the truth will set us free and the Lord Jesus Himself is “the way the truth and the life” who has come to reveal the truth about God and ourselves to us (cf. John 8:32; 14:6; Gaudium et spes,22).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr