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, 57.2.
Saint John Paul II (+2005) when considering the “judgment of conscience” reminds us that “Conscience is the onlywitness, since what takes place in the heart of the person is hidden from the eyes of everyone outside.”
The judgment of conscience takes place in the heart of the person. There is of course a bodily organ we call the heart, which pumps our blood throughout our bodies, as such, the heart is the center of vital action (cf. 1 Kings 21:7). The heart is also symbolic of the depths of our being (cf. Genesis 18:5; Leviticus 19:17; Psalm 104:15; Isaiah 14:13), our fears (cf. 1 Samuel 25:37), loves (cf. 1 Peter 1:22), joys (cf. Deuteronomy 28:47), sorrows (cf. Psalm 13:2) are all said to reside in the heart. The Hebrew term leb is often translated not only as “heart” but also as “inner man, mind, will.” The Greek term kardia and the Latin term corare both translated as “heart, thoughts or feelings, mind. There are more than seven hundred fifty verses of Sacred Scripture which invoke the “heart.” The prophecy of Ezekiel 36:25-26 highlights the “new heart” and “new spirit” which God longs to realize in us, cleansing us from any and all impurities, idols, sin.
The judgment of conscience, in the heart of the person, is hidden from the eyes of everyone else. God, nonetheless, is able to search our hearts (cf. Jeremiah 17:10). While people, our neighbors, can see our actions, they are only able to deduce our intentions, our heart. Woe to us if our hearts are “hardened” “wicked” “perverse” “godless” or deceitful” (cf. Exodus 4:21; Proverbs 26:23; 11:20; Job 36:13; Jeremiah 19:9). If we are “uncircumcised” of heart we have no part in the Covenant(s) (cf. Jeremiah 9:26; Ezekiel 44:7). If we remain obstinate, trying to avoid or disregarding altogether the dictates of a well-formed conscience, we may very well sadly hear the Lord say to us: “Depart from Me you evil doers. I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23)!
By allowing the Word of God to form and rule our hearts and minds, to shape our conscience richly, then we are truly a people who belong to the Lord, living Godly lives (cf. Colossians 3:16). Then we will not be surprised when the Lord should summon us to His throne but rejoice to hear the words: “Good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:23). May the Martyrs of Conscience, Saints Thomas More (+1535) and John Fisher (+1535) intercede for us!
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr