Taking care of our conscience

IF only because it is, as our Catechism teaches, man's most secret core and his sanctuary where he is alone with God, we should all be interested in taking care of our conscience. But what do we see?

There is rampant neglect. It seems the conscience is called upon only when a person is in some extreme situation, such as when he needs to evoke a sense of responsibility in himself or in others, some kind of tool to effect fear.

This is truly lamentable. This only betrays a dangerously confining, if not mistaken, attitude towards a crucial, guiding element in everyone's life. A man in this predicament is like a rudderless ship.

It's as though man wants to be completely on his own, cutting any relationship with his God, or reducing that relationship to something merely formalistic and decorative. This, sadly, is the common phenomenon now, a clear indication we are in some deep crisis.

The need to consult and examine one's conscience regularly, to form and educate it and keep it, so to speak, in its best conditions, is almost completely unattended. It seems by pure accident or coincidence that something is done about it.

Do we wonder, therefore, why there is so much ungodliness and immorality around us, a surge of errors and aberrations being justified and even legalized, made part of people's mentality and culture?

Do we wonder why we see such disturbing phenomena as widespread corruption; the promotion of contraception and other immoral reproductive health methods; the proliferation of pornography and safe-sex methods; the legalization of abortion; same-sex unions; euthanasia?

Do we wonder why man now appears to make himself as his own god, creating his own moral laws and turning himself to be the final arbiter of what is supposed to be good and evil, what is supposed to be right and wrong?

You look around and you can readily see so much smug self-righteousness in the behavior of many people, especially those who by some endowment and other twists of fate enjoy power, wealth and fame.

Shameless rationalizations and justifications come thick and fast to silence the voice of conscience. Not content with this, many adopt a deep-seated, devious attitude that effectively makes them deaf to their consciences.

You point out this disturbing development to people and you will be likely derided as being from Mars: What's wrong with you, man?

In the face of this undeniable state of affairs, it might be good to cite again what our Catechism says about the care of conscience, so that we, in our own way, may do something about it. Yes, we should always be hopeful.

So bear with me as I quote some points from our Catechism that I find helpful and enlightening, especially given the temper of our times.

1779. It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience. This requirement of interiority is all the more necessary as life often distracts us from any reflection, self-examination or introspection.

1783. 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.

1784. The education of the conscience is a lifelong task... 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.

1785. In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path; we must assimilate it in faith and prayer, and put it into practice.

We must also examine our conscience before the Lord's Cross. 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 Catholic Church.

I must say that with the ocean of confusing opinions we swim in every day, it is good that we be reminded from time to time by clear and definitive teachings about something that is crucial in our life -- nothing less than our conscience.