Conscience is often called the voice of God within us. It bids us do what is right and avoid what is wrong. Cain, who lived long before the Ten Commandments were given to Moses, knew by his conscience that it was wicked to slay his brother. When one is tempted to steal, one seems to hear a warning voice saying, "Do not steal. Theft is an offense against God." That is conscience.

    Besides believing what God has revealed, we must keep His law. "But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17).

    The Law of God is contained in both natural and revealed law. Natural law is imprinted by God in the hearts and minds of all men. It teaches the most important rules of morality: homage due to God, treatment of others as we expect others to treat us, the evil of willful injury to oneself, the virtue of truth and honesty. Thus natural law is a definite expression of God's will, requiring obedience.

    For example, a child, or a pagan, who has never heard of the Ten Commandments, feel guilty when he does something wrong. He has an instinctive knowledge of the law of nature written by God in his heart, telling him what is right and what wrong.

    Besides the natural law, there is the revealed law, chiefly composed of the Ten Commandments and the two precepts of charity. The revealed law is only a repetition and amplification for natural law.

    The Ten Commandments, which were given to the Jews through Moses, were not revoked by Jesus Christ; on the contrary, they were amplified and fulfilled. "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). "And by this we can be sure that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says that he knows Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:3-4).

    God's law-that divine reason and will of God-is perceived by men through the light of the intellect, by the voice of their conscience. Conscience is that judgment by which we decide here and now what we should do as good, or avoid as evil.

    Conscience is often called the "voice of reason" or "voice of God", because it bids us do right and avoid wrong. Cain, who lived a long time before Moses, knew that he had committed evil in slaying Abel. Even today, in pagan countries which have never heard of the commandments, men know right from wrong by their conscience. By it they know God Almighty; it bids them obey Him.

    As St. Paul, speaking of the non-Jews who did not know the Jewish law, said: "The Gentiles, who have no law, do by nature what the Law prescribes. They show the work of the law written in their hearts. Their conscience bears witness to them" (Romans 2: 14-15).

    If we always obey the dictates of our conscience, we shall never offend God. It is a guide that He expects us to follow. It arises from knowledge of the law, whether natural or revealed. Before any action, conscience speaks either in favor or against. After the action, according as wee have followed or disregarded it, conscience fills us with peace or disquiet.

    If a person is tempted to steal, he seems to hear an inward voice saying: "Do not steal. You know it is wrong to steal." This inward voice is conscience. Conscience tells us that God is our Lawgiver,--our Judge, Reward, and Avenger.

Thursday: Conscience part two

July 3-5, 2000
volume 11, no. 116
APPRECIATION OF THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF OUR FAITH series

---

Return to front page of current issue