Category Archives: Veritatis splendor

Reflection on Conscience in Veritatis Splendor, 117.

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, 117

            Saint John Paul II (+2005) when considering the “the service of moral theologians” in chapter III reminds us that “the words of the New Covenant” have been entrusted to the Church by the Lord in order to reply to questions arising from our human conscience.

            The question “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16) permeates Veritatis Splendor (cf. VS, 6, 8, 117).  It is the question of every believer.  The answer is none other than Christ Himself.  When we listen to Mother Church and her saving doctrines it is not because of any “cleverly concocted fables” (2 Peter 1:16) or any merely human philosophy or vain deceits (cf. Colossians 2:8) but the power of Christ and His Cross which she proclaims (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:17, 23-24).  In fact, the words of the New Covenant include the Cross, not just Bethlehem morning or Easter glory (cf. Matthew 1:16-25; 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 2:1-6; 24:1-12; John 10:1-10).  The Sacraments are included in the words of the New Covenant, which we enter by Baptism, deepen by Confirmation (cf. Acts 1:8; 19:2), strengthen, renew and heal in Eucharist (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:24; Luke 22:19, Penance (cf. John 20:23) and Anointing (cf. Luke 10:9; James 5:15), grow and share in Marriage and Orders.

            The words of the New Covenant also call us to conversion, to renounce sin and Satan and to live lives pleasing in the sight of Almighty God (cf. Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 11:20; Romans 16:20; 1 John 3:8).  The call to holiness announced in the New Covenant does not negate the call to holiness proclaimed in the Old Covenant as the Lord Jesus makes clear in His Sermon on the Mount “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.  I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).  The Law here is a double reference, to the Torah or Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and the Decalogue specifically (cf. Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21).  Among the sins specifically denounced in the New Testament of Sacred Scripture are:  pride (Matthew 23:12; Mark 7:22; Luke 14:11; 18:14; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:6), idolatry (1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:9; Galatians 5:20; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 21:8), blasphemy (Mark 8:38; Acts 18:6), hatred (2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:3), murder (Matthew 14:19; Mark 5:21; 7:21; 10:19; 19:18; Luke 18:20; Romans 1:29; 1 Peter 3:15), theft (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21; John 10:1, 8), greed (Ephesians 4:19; 5:3; 2 Peter 2:14), lying (Romans 9:1; Ephesians 4:2). 

            God bless you!

            Father John Arthur Orr