A Spiritual Theology of the Conscience: An Extraordinary Force of Grace

Abstract

This article invites reflection upon the spiritual theological nature of the conscience as a means to discern God’s word in the depths of the soul. Coming from the depths of love and truth, the conscience is an extraordinary, demanding the force of grace. This is because God nurtures the formation of human conscience with the prevenience of grace to give light in darkness. This article explores the darkness and weariness of human existence in terms of self-interest, indolence, fatigue, and boredom, and then seeks to reflect upon how the conscience evidences the invincibility of goodness through blessing, humour, and prayer. This means that the conscience, pronouncing love in truth, and the nearness of the Kingdom of God, is called to be a “light” shining “out of darkness” (2 Cor 4:6). The conscience serves to animate a pastoral and spiritual life and testimony of faith, labour, responsibility, humility, and wisdom, as St. Paul relates: “we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God” (2 Cor 4:2). Encountering “God’s mercy” (2 Cor 4:1), the conscience evidences a theophanic encounter of God’s grace that needs to be pronounced in the goodness of love in truth, of responsibility for-and-with-the-other.

Keywords

• acedia
• blessing
• Roger Burggraeve
• conscience
• goodness
• grace