Catholic Community on the Jersey Shore
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Conscience is not a gut feeling
- We are called to seek the truth.
- Become a good moral decision maker means we must form a reliable conscience.
- Like becoming a great athlete, or doctor, or musician, or surfer, it a takes lots of practice and needs to take place over a lifetime.
- A well-formed conscience is not in conflict with the magisterium of the Church.
WHAT IS A CONSCIENCE?
- It is a practical judgment of reason made by the intellect regarding the good or evil of a particular act, in light of objective moral standards-the moral law.
- Enhanced by the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Baptism and enhanced at Confirmation..
- Based also on natural law, Sacred Scripture, the teachings of Christ, and the Magisterium (Teaching authority of the Church).
- It is God speaking to us. (John 1: 1-15)
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Practical steps to a well-formed conscience
1. Read scripture (10 minutes a day reading the New Testament will change your life!)
2. Attend Mass weekly (at a minimum!)
3. Receive the Eucharist reguarly.
4. Seek Reconciliation at least four times a year.
5. Pray daily
6. Learn what the Church teaches and why via Cateschism or other reliable Catholic sources. (Such as many highlighted at this site.)
7. Join or form a faith sharing group.
8. Watch great, faith affirming content. As a start, you can't go wrong by exploring the offerings from Dynamic Catholic, Bishop Barron'sWord on Fire, Ascension Press, The Catholic Minute, Real Life Catholic, or for those maybe looking to go a bit deeper, check out the 'Netflix for Catholics" atFormed.org
9. Turn off the noise of politics and relaativism. It is the Devil's playground.
Our local parish St. Denis subscribes to Formed.org. Enter code PDZVN8 -