Following up on last week’s bulletin article and insert, I want to give a little more catechesis on conversion, specifically the necessary formation of conscience according to Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church in matters of faith and morals. In order to identify those areas in our lives that are in need of conversion (and there is always more work to be done!), we need a well-formed conscience that is able to distinguish between good and evil. The basic premise of the moral life is: Do good, avoid evil, and every Catholic is obliged to seek understanding and form their consciences according to right reason and right belief, so as to be able to choose the good and avoid evil. To diligently seek the formation of a morally upright conscience is an act of faith in God’s commandments, an act of hope in His providence, and an act of charity that enables us to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as our very self (cf. Mark 12:30-32). Remember: conversion is saying no to sin so as to be free to say yes to God. Of course, we all battle daily with our weaknesses, but everyone’s path to sainthood demands that our lives not be crippled by any willful, habitual, or firm dispositions to choose evil. It’s one thing to struggle against weakness and stumble from time to time; it’s a very different thing to embrace or habituate a pattern of sin with no real desire or willing intention to overcome it. We are all sinners, but “a saint is a sinner who keeps trying” (St. Josemaria Escriva) – keeps trying to bring his or her life into greater conformity with the loving will of God.
It is popular opinion today that conscience is the supreme authority in terms of what’s right and wrong. While we are obliged to follow the dictates of conscience, equally necessary is our duty to form our consciences according to the truth revealed by faith and right reason, and not simply our own subjective opinions or feelings. Our Faith tells us that “A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful…The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings (§ 1783). The examination of conscience in last week’s bulletin may have brought things to light that you weren’t aware were sinful. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know these things already, or if someone you trust has told you otherwise in the past – there is a lot of confusion about good and evil in our world today. The important thing is to keep learning, and never be afraid of what you may find in your pursuit of goodness, truth, beauty, grace, and virtue. “The education of the conscience is a lifelong task… [and this] prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart (§ 1784). The more we set our hearts, minds, wills, and strength on God, free, simpler, more peaceful, more joyful, and wholesome our lives become.
As we each strive to walk deeper into the light of Christ, different facets of our souls are illuminated, showing us areas for growth and conversion. Initially, we may want to simply dig in our heals and say “That’s not a sin”, or “Who gives the Church the right to tell me what I can and cannot do?” To the latter question, the answer is: Jesus, Jesus gives her this authority, because He loves us and wants us to know how to love Him. If we struggle to accept some particular moral teaching, we should dive into it and see why the Church says what she does. We’d be insincere in faith if we weren’t willing to give the time or put in the effort to understand why we are called to live the way we are called to live. As we seek to bring our consciences into conformity with truth and goodness, “the Word of God is the light for our path, which we must assimilate in faith and prayer and put into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord's Cross;” He didn’t die for nothing – we were bought at a price (1 Cor 6:20). By Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, we have been set free from sin to become slaves of righteousness (cf. Rom 6:18). In this task of converting our lives to the righteousness for which we have been set free, we are not alone: “We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others, and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church” (§ 1785). If you find yourself coming up against a knot in your own conversion, be patient with yourself and have faith in God. He wants this conversion more than you ever could, and if you trust Him and strive to walk humbly according to His commandments, He will make it happen. Ponder and delight in His law, day and night, and He will yield fruit in your life in due season (cf. Psalm 1:1-3). May God bless you in the week ahead and may Mother Mary lead you deeper into the Sacred and Merciful Heart of Jesus. I remain,
Affectionately Yours in Christ,
Fr. Hess
