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, 71.
Saint John Paul II (+2005) when considering the “moral act” and “teleology and teleologism” reminds us that “the relationship between man’s freedom and God’s law, which has its intimate and living center in the moral conscience, is manifested and realized in human act.”
The Greek terms tele/telos translate as “end” or “purpose.” While some might object that there is any purpose or meaning in the universe, that is foreign to believers. Sacred Scripture assures us that there is an “eternal purpose” “accomplished in Christ Jesus” (cf. Ephesians 3:11) and the salvation of our souls is the goal of our faith (cf. 1 Peter 1:9). The good we do (and evil we refuse to do, or repent having done) are moral acts, that is, deeds which matter, which make up the quality of our character. It is not enough for us to have good intentions only. Good acts, deeds must follow. If the “road to Hell is paved with good intentions” the road to Heaven paved by Jesus Christ, is made with both good intentions and
The Holy Father highlights, again, the relationship which exists between human freedom and the freeing Law of God, which is naturally known via the Natural Law, and which is supernaturally known in the Decalogue (cf. Exodus 20:2-17; Deuteronomy 5:7-21; Romans 2:14-15). When our human acts correspond to the Law of God, natural or supernatural, good follows and is realized. When our human acts are contrary to the Law of God, evil follows and privation results.
It is significant that the Holy Father identifies the “moral conscience” as the “intimate and living center” of the human person. What goes on “in” our soul is key to what we think and desire and do. The “intimate center of the person” is invoked in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2521, 2533, when addressing the Ninth Commandment, but contrary to caricature, Mother Church is not only concerned with so-called “pelvic issues.” Matthew 5:8, concerns our entire self. The human acts, which are moral acts considered by moral conscience, are not merely breathing, digesting, and locomotion which we have in common with beasts. Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP (+1274), when addressing “human acts” in the Summa Theologiae I-II Q. 6-20, distinguishes between voluntary and involuntary, interior and external, as well as the object and consequences of our actions. Among the powers of the human soul the intellect and will are at the forefront. When our will is engaged our moral acts are said to be voluntary and we are responsible.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr