CONSCIENCE

2.  FREEDOM- EXERCISED IN RELATION TO ONE’S
DIGNITY AS A HUMAN BEING WHO IS CREATED
“GOOD” BY PERFECTLY GOOD GOD AND IN
RELATION TO OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, WHO ARE
GIFTED WITH THE SAME FREEDOM AS WELL.
 AUTHENTIC FREEDOM-FREEDOM SHARED WITH
OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY

3.  “THE INNER POWER WHICH DISCERNS AND
CALLS US TO DO WHAT IS GOOD AND AVOID
EVIL, ACCORDING TO THE LAW THAT GOD HAS
WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS. IT APPLIES MORAL
LAW TO A PARTICULAR CASE, THUS
FORMULATING MORAL OBLIGATION” – THE
CATECHISM FOR FILIPINO CATHOLICS
 “PRESENT IN THE HEART OF EVERY PERSON, AND
CONSIDERED AS A JUDGEMENT OF REASON
WHICH AT THE APPROPRIATE MOMENT ENJOINS
THE PERSON TO DO GOOD AND TO AVOID
EVIL”M

4.  “VOICE OF GOD TELLING US WHAT IS RIGHT AND
WHAT IS WRONG AND MAKING US FEEL GUILTY
IF WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG” (KNOX)
 “WITHIN OUR CONSCIENCE IS THE LAW OF GOD
AND OUR HAPPINESS AND DIGNITY DEPENDS ON
THE FOLLOWING THAT LAW” ( THE ESSENTIAL
CATHOLIC HANDBOOK)

5.  PRIEST, THEOLOGIAN AND AUTHOR
 “METAPHOR FOR THE BASIC URGE WE ALL FEEL
TO ACHIEVE INNER PEACE,
HARMONY,PSYCHOLOGICAL BALANCE.”
 CONSCIENCE- DOES MORE THAN JUST TELLING
US RIGHT OR WRONG, GOOD FROM EVIL.
 “CONSCIENCE IS THE MOST SECRET CORE AND
SSANCTUARY OF A PERSON. THERE HE IS ALONE
WITH GOD WHOSE VOICE ECHOES IN HIS
DEPTHS.”

6.  UNDERSTANDING THE THEOLOGICAL MEANING
OF CONSCIENCE IS BY TRACING THE
FOUNDATION IN THE SACRED SCRIPTURES.

7.  SYNEIDESIS- GREEK WORD FOR CONSCIENCE
 “HEART”

8.  FIDELITY TO THE COVENANT AND TO LAW
 HISTORY OF THE JEWS AS PEOPLE
• COVENANT- REASON FOR ISRAEL’S FREESOM AND
IDENTITY AS A NATION AND AS A COMMUNITY OF
GOD’S PEOPLE.
• PROPRHETS- YMWH SPOKEPERSONS FOR ISRAEL
• DECALOGUE-GUIDELINE FOR ISRAEL

9.  CONSCIENCE-CAN’T BE FOUND IN THE GOSPEL
 SOME GOSPEL TEXTS REFER TO INNER
DISPOSITION OF THE PERSON
 CONSCIENCE- IN PAULINE WRITINGS,25 TIMES
(PAULINE EPISTLES), 3 (1PETER), 2( ACTS OF
APOSTLES)

10. A. IT IS FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS OF THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
B. IT IS A PRINCIPLE OF FREEDOM FOUNDED ON
OUR OBLIGATIONS ON OUR NEIGHBOUR
C. LOVE PROCEEDS FROM A PURE HEART AND
GOOD CONSCIENCE AND GENUINE FAITH
D. CHRIST PURIFIES THE CONSCIENCE AND NOT
THE SACRIFICIAL REITUAL OF THE LAW

11.  BASIC NOTION COCERNING THE ROLE OF
CONSCIENCE IN THE MORAL DEMAND OF DOING
WHAT IS GOOD AND AVOIDING WHAR IS EVIL.
 PEOPLE- HUMAN NATURE
 BELIEVERS- CONSCIENCE

12.  EXISTENCE OF CONSCIENCE- UNIVERSAL
REALITY AND PHENOMENON PRESENT
 “HEART”, “MIND”, “IOINS”- NATURE OF
CONSCIENCE
 “THE HEART IS AN EXCELLENT WITNESS, ONE
MUST NOT TRANGRESS AGAINST ITS WORDS”
 *SHORT STORY*

13.  CONSCIENCE- PART OF THE RATIONAL
OPERATION OF THE HUMAN PERSON.
 “THE PROCESS IN WHICH THE NORMS OF THE
MORAL LAW ARE APPLIED TO CONCRETE ACTION
WHICH A PERSON IS ABOUT TO PERFORM OR
HAS PERFORMED, TELLING THE PERSON WHAT
HIS OBLIGATION IS HERE AND NOW OR JUDGING
HIS PAST ACTS.”

14.  ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL THEOLOGIANS
IN THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

15.  QUITE SPIRITUAL RATHER
THAN INTELLECTUAL, MORE
DIVINE THAN HUMAN
 “THE PLACE OF THE
INNERMOST ENCOUNTER
BETWEEN GOD AND MAN,
THEREFORE, THE VOICE OF
GOD. IT IS THE DIVINE CENTER
OF THE HUMAN PERSON,
WHERE HE IS ADDRESSED BY
GOD. IN IT, HE IS AWARE OF
GOD AND THE SOUL”

16.  THOSE WHOM SOCIETY CONSIDER THE SIMPLE,
THE UNEDUCATED AND NOT INTELLECTUALLY
GIFTED, ARE SUPRISINGLY THE ONES WHO ARE
ABLE TO MAKE THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY
GOOD MORAL DECISIONS AND ACTIONS IN THE
MOST HUMANE AND SINCERE WAY.
 “INTELLIGENCE AND RATIONALITY ALONE ARE
NOT CONSCIENCE.

17.  “CONSCIENCE INFORMS A PERSON ABOUT HIS
PERSONAL CALLING IN THE CONTEXT OF GOD’S
PLAN OF CREATION”
 “CONSCIENCE ALSO HAS A VOLATIVE QUALITY,
MEANING, IT INCLINES AND URGES A PERSON TO
ACCPET THE KNOWN GOOD AND TO REALIZE IT.”
 “CONSCIENCE IS NOT EQUATED WITH FEELINGS.
FEELINGS ARE NOT CONSCIENCE” – IAN KNOX

18.  “CONSCIENCE IS MORE THAN MERE REASON,
MORE THAN FREE WILL, MORE THAN MERE
FEELING, IT IS THE DEPTH OF HUMAN
EXISTENCE, THE INNERMOST CORE OF THE
PERSON IN HIS DIRECTEDNESS TOWARDS GOD
AND IN HIS ULTIMATE SUSTENANCE BY HIM”

19.  CONSCIENCE- FACULTY DISTINCT FROM REASON,
WILL AND FEELING.
 EXPRESSES THE RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL
DIMENSION OF CONSCIENCE
 HUMAN PERSON- RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE
WITH HIS DECISIONS AND ACTIONS BEFORE GOD,
KEEPING IN MIND AND HEART HIS CALLING TO BE
HOLY AS A SACRED BEING.
 OBEDIENCE- IMPERATIVE, SOMETHING WHICH CAN
ULTIMATELY COME FROM GOD ALONE
 DISOBEDIENCE- GUILT OF SHAME AND SIN

20.  SIGMUND FREUD
 POPULAR AUSTRIAN
 FOUNDER PSYCHOANALYSIS
 ID, EGO, SUPER-EGO

21.  “THE SOURCE OF INSTINCTUAL IMPULSES AND
DEMANDS FOR SATISFACTIONOF PRIMITIVE
NEEDS.”

22.  “THAT PART OF THE PSYCHE THAT IS
CONSCIOUS, CONTROLS THOUGHT AND
BEHAVIOR, AND IS MOST IN TOUCH WITH
EXTERNAL REALITY”

23.  THAT PART OF THE PSYCHE FORMED THROUGH
THE INTERNALIZATION OF MORAL STANDARDS
OF PARENTS AND SOCIETY

24.  BIG STOREHOUSE, DATABASE
 STORE ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING MORAL
OBLIGATIONS

25.  “DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE TWO REQUIRES
A GREAT DEGREE OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE”- IAN
KNOX
 GENUINE SELF-KNOWLEDGE
 LONG AND GRADUAL PROCESS
 NEED A REGULAR AND CONSTANT
ACCOMPANIMENT FROM THOSE WHO AAD BEEN
CONSIDERED ‘EXPERTS’ IN THE FIELD OF
INFORMATION

26.  SUPER-EGO- FOUNDED ON THE MORAL NORMS
AD STANDARDS SET BY OUR PARENTS AND THE
SOCIETY WE GREW UP WITH.
 THE MOTIVATION FOR LIVING A GOOD MORAL
LIFE IS LARGELY DETERMINED BY EXTERNAL AND
VERY OFTEN.’ BLIND OBEDIENCE’ TO THE
ESTABLISHED NORMS SET BY THE IDENTIFIED
FIGURES OF AUTHORITY.

27.  CONSCIENCE- POINTS IS BEYOND FIGURES OF
AUTHORITY AND SOCIALLY-ESTABLISHED
NORMS AND STANDARDS.
 BRINGS US TO BE HOLY, TO LIVE IN COMMUNION
WITH HIM AND THE REST OF CREATION
 LEADS US TO THE ULMIATE SOURCE OF
HUMANITY AND GUIDES US TO OUR ULTIMATE
DESTINY- GOD HIMSELF

28.  MATURITY- MOTIVE AND DESIRE TO DO GOOD
MUST COME FROM AN INTERNAL DISCERNMENT
OF MORALLY UPHELD VALUES AND VIRTUES
REGARDLESS OF EXTERNAK PRESSURES
CONTRARYU OR NOT TO THOSE WHICH HE
UPHOLDS

29.  “ THE SUPER-EGO MAY ALSO BE FELT BY A
MORALLY MATURE PERSON, BUT HE IS NOT
DOMINATED BY IT. HE RECOGNIZES ITS
PRESENCE BUT HE HAS IT UNDER CONTROL.
SUCH A PERSON CAN RESPECT LAW AND
AUTHORITY, BUT HIS LIFE IS GOVERNED MORE
BY FREELY CHOSEN VALUES”

30.  CONSCIENCE- FEELINGS THAT LEAD TO
UNDERSTANDING, HOPE AND NEW LIFE

31.  “THE GUILT FEELINGS COULD ALSO BE THE
RESULT OF MERELY SHAME OVER BREAKING
SOME SOCIAL OR CULTURAL “TABOO””
 AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN CONSCIENCE-
CLARIFYING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUE
MORAL GUILT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL GUILTY
FEELINGS WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY INVOLVE
ANY MORAL FAULT

32.  WHAT IS GOOD
AND WHAT IS
RIGHT

33.  CONSCIENCE IS INVIOLABLE
 FINAL ARBITER OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS
WRONG, THE CHURCH BELIEVES THAT “
CONSCIENCE IS PRIMARY”
 “IN OUR CONSCIENCE WE ARE ALONE WITH GOD
WHOSE VOICE ECHOES IN OUR DEPTHS”- VATICAN
II
 BOUND TO FOLLOW OUR CONSCIENCE FAITHFULLY
AND “NO ONE IS TO BE FORCED TO ACT IN A MANNER
CONTRARY TO HIS CONSCIENCE. NOR ON THE OTHER
HAND, IS HE TO BE RESTRAINED FROM ACTING IN
ACCORDANCE WITH HIS CONSCIENCE, ESPECIALLY IN
RELIGIOS MATTERS.”

34.  CONSCIENCE CAN ALSO COMMIT ERRORS
BECAUSE IT IS NOT PERFECT, JUST LIKE US.
 It should always be followed, in every circumstances
 “voice of God echoing in our depths
• “CONSCIENCE FREQUENTLY ERRS FROM
INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE WITHOUT LOSING
DIGNITY” –GADIUM ET SPES 16

35. “ INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE CANBE DESCRIBED AS
AN IGNORANCE FOR WHICH THE PERSON CANNOT
BE HELD MORALLY RESPONSIBLE WHEN AN EVIL
ACT HAS BENN COMMITTED AS A RESULT OF
WHICH” -MCBRIEN

36.  CONSCIENCE IS NOT PERFORMED PERFECTLY
THE MOMENT WE WERE BORN
 NEEDS TO LEARN AND RE-LEARN IF IT HAS TO
GROW TOWARDS MATURITY AND WHOLENESS.
• “IN COMPLEX MODERN CONDITIONS, WITH NEW
SENSITIVES, NEW DEMANDS AND HOPES, MORAL
JUDGEMENTS ARE MORE DIFFICULT AND LESS
CERTAIN” – CATECHISM FOR FILIPINO CATHOLICS

37.  FORMATION OF CONSCIENCE IS A LIFETIME
PROCESS
 FORMATION HAPPENS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF
ONE’S FAITH IN CHRIST AND IN ONE’S ACTIVE
INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY,
THE CHURCH.
 FORMATIVE FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED:
 HEART
 MIND

38.  NOTABLE MORAL THEOLOGIAN
 FORMING ONE’S CONSCEINCE
SHOULD NOT ONLY FOCUS ON
THE QUESTION “WHAT SORT OF
PERSON AM I?” BUT ALSO “WHAT
SORT OF PERSON I OUGHT TO
BECOME? “ WHAT IS THE SORT OF
PERSON THA GOD WANTS ME TO
BECOME?”
 FORMATION OF CONSCIENCE
NECESSITATES A DEEPER DEGREE
OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE,
SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFICULT
TO ACHIEVE BY OURSELVES.

39.  OUR INVOLVEMENT IN A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY,
WITH ITS TRADITIONS, RITUALS AND DEVOTIONAL
PRACTICES CAN HELP SHAPE OUR SPIRITUAL
OUTLOOK AND CHARACTER, AS IAN KNOW ALSO
BELIEVES
 “THE MATURE CONSCIENCE IS FORMED AND
EXERCISED IN COMMUNITY IN DIALOGUE WITH
OTHER SOURCES OF MORAL WISDOM” – GULAS
 “MODERN MAN LISTENS MORE WILLINGLY TO
WITNESS THAN TO TEACHERS AND IF HE DOES
LISTEN TO TEACHERS, IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE
WITNESSED.” POPE PAUL VI, EVANGELII NUNTIANDI

40.  FORMATION OF CONSCIENCE IS NOT JUST A
PERSONAL BUT A COMMUNAL OBLIGATION AND
RESPONSIBILITY.
 FAIL? – WE NEED GOD’S GRACE EVEN MORE

41.  IT IS THE DEPTHS OF A WELL-FORMES
CONSCIENCE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HEAR,
DISCOVER AND ENCOUNTER THE VOICE OF GOD,
AND GOD HIMSELF.
 FAITHFULNESS AND OBEDIENCE DICTATES OF
OUR CONSCIENCE, AFTER A SERIOUS AND
SINCERE REFLECTION AND DISCERNMENT LEADS
US TO CORRECT MORAL DECISIONS AND
ACTIONS, HELPING US TO BE IN COMMUNION
WITH OURSELVES, WITH OTHERS, WITH THE
REST OF CREATION, AND WITH GOD.

42.  CONSCIENCE IS INVIOLABLE
 FAILURE TO FOLLOW ONE’S CONSCIENCE=
FAILURE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO ONE’S
DECISION AND ACTION.
 “THE WORST TING IN THE WORLD IS NOT SIN; IT
IS THE DENIAL OF SIN BY A FALSE CONSCIENCE-
FOR THAT ATTITUDE MAKES FORGIVENESS
INPOSSIBLE.”- BISHOP FULTON SHEEN