The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-01-22
CONSCIENCE.

would know good from evil ana rear
ize the punishments Of sin. Thus a
little child who cannot read knows
that it is wrong to disobey and Cain
knew that his murder would be
avenged long before God spoke the
ten commandments. Conscience is,
indeed, in every human heart regard
less of education, age or character
and is the voice of God informing us
of His holy WILL If we obey it we
will go to Heaven for the will of
God is our salvation.
Like all Gods works conscience was
perfect when given to men. 1t was a
spiritual compass that accurately in
Dictated the perils Of life and suf-
feed to lead them to salvation. But
like foolish sailors who disregard
their compass, men would not be
guided by this voice of God and, of
course, their corrupt natures led them
into the danger of everlasting destruc-
ton. In alarm they turned back to
conscience, but centuries of neglect
had rendered this spiritual guide I'M
true. 1t no longer pointed to the will
of God and consequently the people
of old we're powerless to save them
selves from Hell because they could
not distinguish right from wrong.
But the Heavenly Father did not
abandon His wayWard children in
their need. Their sorrows so pierced
His loving heart that He determined
to give them an extra guide which
would make His wishes so clear that
men need not depend upon the indis
tinct directions of conscience alone
and could always know the difference
between right and wrong. This ad
ditional guide is the ten command.
ments, north star of faith to which
men can ever look and know when
their consciences are true and point
to the will of God.
Now we know that if child ven
lures too near a stove his father, at
first, will gently explain his rashness
but if he persists in disobedience. the
good parent will sternly require him
to beware. Such severity is prompted
| by sincere love. When our Heavenly
1 Father saw His reckless children OF
earth deliberately reject His warn
ings so mildly spoken through con
science He called Moses and the
chosen people to Mount Sinai, i'm
pressed them with His authority by
causing the heavens to flash fire, the
earth to tremble, and the angels tC
sing, while in a voice of thunder He
laid down His holy law. And lest
these commandments be forgotten in
the course of ages He wrote them or
two slabs of enduring stone. Surely
all can see in them the fathomless
love of a Father anxious for the safety
of His children who were exposing
themselves to the perils of everlasting
fire.
These ten commandments we're not
however, new list of sins, for God:
will can never change. They are sim
ply more emphatic expression of The
inward voice of God that told Cai1
long centuries before that murdel
would be avenged and informs ever!
child that it must not steal although
it never heard of the seventh com
mandment. That is why Chris
could say with truth, II came not tt
destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. I
you love Me, keep My command
ments."
| 1t is clear, then, that conscience
alone is not a safe guide to Heaven
Like the people of old we are apt tt
follow the cravings of our fallen ma
lures and so injure our conscience
that we get wrong ideas of Gods will
Thus some people will not look t
Gods spoken words and the indis
tinct promptings of conscience lea,
them into error. The scrupulous i'm
agine lawful acts to be sinful, Will
the lax go to the opposite extreme an,
take forbidden liberties. Such peopll
are responsible to God for their mis-
takes because they will not use tn,
means God gave to correct their con
sciences. They must refer to tn,
words of God and keep them.
i But everybody is not qualified to in
terpret the will of God as spokel
through the ten commandments. TIL
laws of our country are plainly writ
ten yet fifty men will understand
them in as many different ways. TIL,
trouble is not with the laws but witt
the fallible judgments of men. T,
ensure justice for all we authoriz
magistrates and other officials to in
terpret them God, too, knowing tn
weakness of our natures, appointed
an infallible interpreter of His Law
the Holy Catholic Church. To her H
sent the Spirit of Truth to call t
her mind whatsoever He taught an,
threatened to reject US if we rejec
her teachings. To keep our cor
sciences true then we must abide il
the authorized officials of Gods ReI
resentatiye on earth by following tn
will of God as interpreted by tn
priests of the Catholic Church. Thu
we will be sure Of Heaven for on
consciences will always point to tn
VIII of God and that Willis our sa
walton.
/, He has many DESTROYS Of comfort
| huf fouv ~ fv;FtsIa {ss,r,