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, 1777.
When considering “conscience” the Catechism directs us to two passages of Sacred Scripture: “the Gentiles, who do not have the Law, do by nature what the Law requires … God will judge men’s secrets” (Romans 2:14-16) and the senseless, faithless, heatless and merciless know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, continue to do these things and also approve of those who practice them (cf. Romans 1:32). The “Law” referred to here by Saint Paul is the Decalogue. That the Gentiles do by nature what the Law requires is a reference to the natural law which Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP (+1274) treats in his Summa Theologiae I-II Q. 94, A. 1-6.
Moral conscience directs us at the appropriate moment to do good and to avoid evil. While some may deny it, Sacred Scripture is clear that there is a difference between good and evil (cf. Isaiah 5:20; Matthew 7:11; 12:35; Luke 6:43; 3 John 1:11). There are different aspects of conscience highlighted by the Catechism here by the terms “directs” and “do.” They show an executive function of conscience in directing our moral life. Conscience judges that a particular act is good or evil and that we should act accordingly.
Moral conscience bears witness to the authority of truth in reference to the supreme Good to which we are drawn and welcomes the Commandments. Pontus Pilate is not the only one to call truth into question (cf. John 18:38). Part of the revelation made by the Lord Jesus is that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). The graces of faith and revelation help believers, even though truth may be naturally known. While Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP wrote three volumes on Truth, in our own day Simon Blackburn (b. 1944) gave the 2004 Gifford Lectures published as Truth: A Guide (2005). The “supreme Good” to which we are drawn is almighty God. The Ten Commandments are a revealed expression of the Decalogue (cf. CCC 1955).
When we listen to the voice of conscience with prudence we can hear God speaking. The virtue of prudence is treated by Saint Thomas in the Summa Theologiae II-II Q. 47-56. When God speaks to us through our conscience He does not contradict His speaking to us through the public revelation found in Sacred Scriptures and the sure and certain teachings of Mother Church. God has provided these sources to us to give us counsel and as a measure to help us judge and do what is good or avoid and repent what is evil. The call of Samuel reminds us to heed the voice of conscience: “speak Lord, your servant is living” (cf. 1 Samuel 3:10).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr