St. Teresa of Avila reveals the secret to deep union in prayer:contemplate the HUMANITY OF CHRIST.  On one occasion, St. Catherine of Siena was privileged to contemplate merely the “Hand” of Christ, which catapulted, the “Doctor of the Church” into ecstasy. Viewing more, she would have died of love!  Why not contemplate the “Hands of Jesus the Lord”!

1. HANDS OF JESUS IN THE HANDS OF MARY.  A very tender and moving contemplation is viewing Jesus as a Baby in the arms of Mary.  But, focusing on Mary gently, with great tenderness, which is characteristic of a mother, holding the hands of Jesus. Our Lady of Perpetual Help is holding the baby Jesus in her arms, His sandal is unlaced and falling, and He is grasping the hand of Mary.  That “Baby Jesus” in the arms of Mary is you and me and we are invited to grasp and cling to the hand of Mary.

2. CALLOUSED, SOILED, HARDENED HANDS OF JESUS THE CARPENTER.  As a youth Jesus worked long, hard, tiring hours in the carpenter shop, side by side with S. Joseph. Nailing pieces of wood, sawing and adjusting, sanding down to level, lifting heavy pieces of wood– all of this hard work would have resulted in hardened, calloused, soiled hands.  These “Sacred-work-hands” teach us the value of hard work and that we should be using our hands to build the Kingdom of God and save souls!

3. HANDS OF JESUS EMBRACING AND BLESSING CHILDREN.  Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Unless you become like a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” BLESSINGS!  These Sacred Hands want to bless you, your children and all of your family.  May Dads/fathers impart Jesus’ blessing on their children every night before retiring.

4. HANDS OF JESUS TOUCHING THE EYES OF THE BLIND.  Jesus is the “Light of the world” who came to cast out darkness and the prince of this world– that is to say, to conquer sin and expel the devil!  Ask the hands of Jesus to touch your eyes so that you can see Him more clearly every day in the Word of God, the Persons you meet, circumstances of your life and in the “Bread of Life.”

5. HANDS OF JESUS TOUCHING THE “UNTOUCHABLES”: THE LEPERS!
In Jesus’ time, the outcasts of society, considered the scum of the earth, were the lepers. Sores all over the body, spreading from one part to the other, emitting a foul smell, highly contagious– signs of leprosy–  was viewed in the worldly perspective  as a chastisement from God.  So severe was the suffering that they had to live in colonies separated from society and cry out “Impure” when others approached them.  Totally counter-cultural, full of love and compassion, and breaking all rules of etiquette and protocol— (because of His great love)— Jesus would actually touch the leper. However, instead of contracting the highly contagious disease, Jesus would heal it instantaneously!  My friends, welcome to the “Leper club”! We are all lepers from conception and birth, due to Original Sin and actual sin. Good News!  There is a “Doctor” in the House. Jesus, with His hands, wants to touch you and heal you, through His gentle but powerful “Touch” in the Sacrament of Confession! Jesus, touch my leprosy and heal me!

6. HANDS OF JESUS CALMING THE STORM.   The storm descended violently upon the Lake of Galilee, and the Apostles were in the boat.  Petrified with fear, they called Jesus who was asleep.  (The only time we find Jesus asleep in the whole of the Gospels is in the midst of the storm on the lake!!!! Lesson for us in trust!)  Totally in control of nature and the storm, Jesus arises, stretches out His hands and cries out: “Be calm!” The storm immediately subsided and a total calm followed!   In the interior storms of our life, we should call Jesus, invite Him into the boat of our life and beg Him to lift His powerful hands to calm the tempest! Jesus is just as powerful today, as He was 2000 years. His power (or lack of it) is in proportion to our faith. “Lord, I believe, but strengthen my faith.”

7. HANDS OF JESUS RAISING THE DEAD.    A twelve year old girl died. Jesus was called and He entered the room and took the little girl by the hand.  Jesus'” Sacred and Healing Hand” lifted the girl, bringing her from death to life.  “Talitha Cum!”  Little girl, arise!  Immediately she rose from the dead, walked around the room and her parents were astonished.  Jesus’ Hands still can raise the dead from their tomb, if we truly believe.  Jesus came to bring Life and life in abundance!

8. HANDS  OF JESUS BLESSING BREAD AND BREAKING IT!
This simple but profound gesture has transformed the universe because with this Jesus promised to be with us until the end of time.   “I will be with you until the end of the world.” (Mt 28).   But how is Jesus going to remain with us until the end of the world? Quite simply in the Church,  in the  Sacraments, but in  the most powerful way in His   “Real Presence” in the Eucharist.   Both at the Last Supper and in the small cottage in Emmaus, Jesus did the same with His Sacred Hands.  “He took bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread and gave the bread… All these gestures were accomplished by His Sacred Hands!

9.  HANDS OF JESUS EXTENDED AND NAILED TO THE CROSS.   Our meditation/contemplation would be far from complete, if we were to omit the most loving gesture of Jesus on earth: His death for us on the cross!  Jesus stretched out His Sacred Hands on the wood of the cross and allowed them to be brutally pierced with nails.  The hammer, the nails, the pounding, the blood gushing forth— all from these Sacred Hands that blessed the children, opened the eyes of the blind, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead,  grasped the hands of Mary.  How much we should adore the Sacred Humanity of Jesus by contemplating these blood-stained hands.

10. DIVINE MERCY AND THE HANDS OF JESUS.  In the well-known image of Divine Mercy, the Risen Jesus stands, dressed in a white robe, head surrounded by light,  gentle and loving face inspiring confidence.  Furthermore,  Jesus with His right hand extended, He blesses the world; with His left hand pointing to His pierced Sacred Heart, two rays flow like a stream of grace, one red, the other a lighter color.    Both bring us back to the Passion, Good Friday, when the soldier with His lance pierced the Heart of Jesus. The “red” symbolizes the Eucharist; the lighter color, both Baptism and Confession.  His Sacred Hands point to the very symbol of His love for all of humanity: His Sacred Heart, pierced with a lance.

May the Sacred Hands of Jesus extend over you, your family, your household, and all who you are, and all that you  will do. May these Sacred Hands, that you have meditated upon bless you with the most abundant graces. May we walk hand in hand with Jesus and Mary through this life, valley of tears, until we meet in heaven!

If you expose a diamond to the sun, then you will admire the diversity of the colors that emanate from the diamond, like a beautiful rainbow after a torrential downpour.   The Blessed Virgin Mary can be compared to the beautiful diamond rays and the sun.  The saints have many points in common and one of these is their great love and devotion  to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  However, their “”Marian perspective” will be slightly different; in other words, all the saints have a specific “Marian charism” that differentiates one from the other.

Therefore, let us enter into the hearts of some saints to admire the way that they were captivated by the beauty of  this “Precious Diamond of God”— the name of this diamond is the Blessed Virgin Mary.  After making this spiritual tour with the saints and their “Marian Perspective”, you might ask yourself, what special quality of the Blessed Virgin Mary most appeals to the innermost recesses of your own heart?

1. ST. JOSEPH.    Of all the saints St Joseph was by far the person who knew Mary best, being her beloved spouse. Praying with her, protecting her, providing for her, sacrificing himself for her, praying for her, loving and cherishing her— St Joseph indeed has a unique and most profound relationship to Mary most Holy. Indeed he could be called the “First devotee” of Mary after Jesus Himself! Love for Joseph, fosters love for Mary; love for Mary necessarily draws us into the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Jesus reveals the Father to us!

2. ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST.  SPIRITUAL SONSHIP.  “The beloved disciple”, the fourth Evangelist, known as the “Eagle”, the Mystic, had a deep filial relationship to Mary. Jesus said from the cross:”Woman behold thy son; son behold they mother.” From that moment the beloved disciple took her (Mary) into his home.   Mary was spiritual mother to John and in John is to be found each and every one of us: we are Mary’s spiritual sons in “John the Evangelist”. Living with Mary, praying with her, celebrating Mass for her and giving her Holy Communion– all of these must have been ecstatic experiences for this “Virgin disciple” who watched over the Virgin Mary!

3. ST. AUGUSTINE.   After his radical conversion and founding of the order after his own name, “The Augustinians”, this great saint called Mary, “Our Lady of Good Counsel”. In doubt and before making important decisions, we should invoke Mary’s intercession. Furthermore, Augustine, with his usual eloquence and verbal depth, coined this Marian masterpiece: “If we were to put all of the love of all of the mothers of all times together, then the love that Mary has for YOU  is much greater!  How great Mary loves you!

4. ST. BERNARD.    Known as the “Mellifluous Doctor”— “Honey-mouth” Doctor due to his poetic eloquence,  lifted up magnificent hymns of praise of God through Mary.   In the saint’s famous hymn/poem, he portrays Mary as “Stella Maris”, the “Beautiful Star of the Sea”. Common knowledge for the sailors of the time, the stars were the sure luminaries  and guides , leading the sailors safely to the port.   In the midst of the many storms, tempests, turmoils, uncertainties of human life, we who are human sailors, heading towards the port of salvation, must have our eyes, minds and hearts elevated to Mary, the Star of the Sea. She will guide us securely and safely home to heaven.  “Ave, Stella Maris” (Prayer in True Devotion to Mary, St Louis de Montfort).

5. ST. DOMINIC GUZMAN.   Founder of the Dominicans (Order of Preachers) fought courageously  against the heretics of the day— the Albigensians. No success!  Until Our Lady appeared to the saint and encouraged him in his work, but told him to preach the Rosary. This done, huge numbers of heretics returned to the practice of the Catholic faith. Therefore, the Marian charism of St. Dominic is the Rosary, Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

6. ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI.   Living at the same time as St Dominic, St Francis prayed in the “Portiuncula”. This great saint paid honor to Mary under the title of “Queen of the Angels”.  In heaven the angels praise the Trinity, but through the intercession of Mary, Queen of all angels and saints.  However, a privileged role was carried out by the Archangel Gabriel, who was given the   mission to announce to Mary that she would be the Mother of God.

7. ST PETER NOLASCO.  Founder of the Mercedarians, whose charism was to liberate slaves. His Marian charism is “Our Lady of Ransom”.  We have been ransomed, bought back, at a dear price, the Blood of Jesus. May Our Lady help us to recognize our great dignity, and the price of our salvation!

8. ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.   Received the inspiration of the formation of the Spiritual Exercises through the intercession of Mary. However, in Rome, Ignatius as well as other Jesuit saints cultivated special honor to   “La Madonna De la Strada”— Our Lady of the way/street/Pilgrim Virgin.  This beautiful image can be found in the  famous church of the Jesuits in Rome, “Gesu”.  May Our Lady accompany us every step  on our way in our journey to heaven!

9. ST. TERESA OF AVILA/ST. JOHN  OF THE CROSS.  Both Carmelites, honored in a special way “Our Lady of Mount Carmel”.   This, of course, brings us in contact with the Scapular, which is “Mary’s garment”. Those who wear it with faith, devotion and purity are promised special protection and blessings from Mary in this life and the life to come!

10. ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI.   Founder of the Redemptorists, and prolific writer, his classic Glories of Mary, manifested a special and tender devotion to Mary in all times and places but especially under the title of “Our Lady of Perpetual Help”.  Mary is always ready to help us, especially in the darkest moments of our life. Just call on her!

11. ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT.   The famous French missionary, writer, poet, and author of True Devotion to Mary, invokes Mary fervently as “Queen of all hearts”.  Mary wants to reign in your heart so as to bring Jesus as King to reign totally in your life!

12. ST. JOHN BOSCO.  Founder, author, builder, mystic, lover of youth, miracle-worker, would always attribute the miracles carried out not to himself but to Mary under the title of “Our Lady Help of Christians”.    The famous dream of the ship portrays two pillars ascending from the waters. On the top of the highest pillar is Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament; on the top of the other pillar, lower and facing the pillar with the Blessed Sacrament is Mary, Help of Christians. She points us to Christ and teaches us how to adore and worship Him.

13. LUCIA DE LOS SANTOS (FATIMA)   Heard Our Lady tell the world to pray the Holy Rosary 6 times. However, she was called to stay longer than her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco, until she was 98, for the purpose of spreading devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.”

14. ST. THERESE.  A faithful daughter of Carmel, once her heart burst out in love for Mary with these words:  “Mary indeed is Queen, but she is Mother before Queen.”  St. Therese’ health was spared by the smile of Our Lady as Mother.  “Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death” . Amen

15 ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE.   The martyr of the concentration camp, who valiantly offered his life in sacrifice for a man with a family, manifested a fiery devotion to Mary all of his life.  He was dubbed as”Knight of the Immaculata”. Mary and the Immaculate Conception, fascinated this saint and motivated him to accomplish miracles for her, to the point of shedding his life, in a bunker  by being starved to death!

16. BLESSED JOHN PAUL.  Reading the life of this former saint—-__Maximillian Kolbe—- was inspired to become a priest. His motto as Pope was “TOTUS TUUS EGO SUM”– taken from St. Louis de Montfort. |”Mary I am all yours and all that I have is yours!”  Pope John Paul II died on the first Saturday of the month of April, the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday.

17. ST. FAUSTINA KOWLASKA.   Loved our Lady of mercy, but also a faithful daughter of Poland cultivated a tender devotion to Our Lady of Jasna Gora/– the black virgin with the scar on her face.  To love Mary is to  understand mercy, love mercy, and live mercy in our lives.  “Hail Holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope…

18. St. MARIA SOLEDAD.   Foundress of the “Servants of Mary”, whose charism is to assist the dying in their last days,  invoked Mary under the title, “”Our Lady, Health of the Sick”.  May Our Lady, heal us of our spiritual sicknesses– sin– and help us to bear patiently our crosses and sicknesses as a means of purification, sanctification and means to unite ourselves to the Passion, suffering and death of Our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

19. ST. JOSEPH COTTOLEGNO. Contemporary of St John Bosco and founder of the “Piccola Casa”– (The Small House), which sheltered, fed, and supported (and still supports) huge numbers of handicapped people, had a very fascinating devotion to Mary, under the title of  Mother of Divine Providence.  With a limitless trust in Mary, and almost always in debt, he knew that Mary would help him to feed, pay, and support the poor, handicapped and sick who he saw as Jesus. Indeed Mary did!  To this day, this little city, is maintained by daily donations and trust in Our Lady of Divine Providence.

20. VENERABLE FATHER BRUNO LANTERI.  Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, noticed these circumstances. When heresies raise their ugly heads in the world, it is through the intercession of Our Lady that these heresies are conquered; clear example was in the time of St. Dominic and the  defeat of the Albigensian heresy. Father Lanteri’s Marian motto was: “Maria invoca; Maria cogita”, meaning, invoke Mary, and think of Mary!

May the words of the great Doctor of the Church, St. Bernard, encourage us to imitate the saints in their love for Mary, “When Mary supports you, you will not fall. With her as your protector, you will have nothing to fear. With her as your guide, you will not grow weary. When you win her favour, you will reach the port of heaven.” (True Devotion to Mary, St Louis de Montfort # 174). Like the saints, may we all one day be a precious jewel in the crown of the Queen of Heaven and earth that will shine brightly for all eternity!

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ spent 30 years in His “Private life” in Nazareth with Mary and St Joseph. He spent three years in His Public life; and He spent three hours on the cross, shedding His Precious Blood for our salvation.

In His Public ministry, which lasted only a short three years, Jesus carried out basically three (3) activities, all of which were imbued with a spirit of prayer.  These three activities were: 1) Preaching the word of God and explaining  to individuals, smaller groups, or even thousands of people the message of the Kingdom of God. His primary teaching tool was the use of Parables, which are short earthly stories with a heavenly message.  Next, 2)  Jesus  performed many miracles to prove that He was not simply a man, but truly God. These miracles could be divided into two categories: miracles over nature, such as calming the storm, walking on water, multiplying the loaves and the fishes, and transforming water into wine, and the other miracles were related to the healing of human bodies of sicknesses, often incurable, such as giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, power to walk to the paralytics, and the cleansing of the horrible disease of leprosy. All done out of love and compassion.

Third and lastly, Jesus  came into frequent contact with the devil, and often Jesus would meet individuals who were actually possessed by the devil or even at times many devils (as in the case of Legion). Jesus showed His power over the devils by performing exorcisms— actually casting out the devils from these bodies,  which resulted in true freedom, peace and joy.

This being the case, we all must be keenly aware of the devil, the enemy, Satan, the “Prince of this world”,   “The enemy of our human nature” (St Ignatius) and how the devil attacks us, where, when how, and in what circumstances, so that we can have a game-plan or a spiritual strategy to implement so that we do not fall victim to his tricks, traps, and  temptations.  So we will outline  the  SPIRITUAL STRATEGY AGAINST  SATAN.

1. AWARENESS!  When tempted, honestly admit it.  “Name it and claim it!”   Even say to yourself, when aware, “I am being tempted by the devil!”  Self-knowledge is essential for growth in the spiritual life– as well as knowledge of when, how, and what time and manner the devil tempts me!

2. PRAYER!  A short, fervent prayer from the heart can serve to extinguish the flaming darts of the enemy.  An aspiration, ejaculation, short fervent prayer is like a fiery dart that pierces the clouds and can serve to attain grace to  banish the devil.  A most powerful prayer is the HAIL MARY!   The devil  is paralyzed with fear at the mere name of “Mary”, the woman who crushes the head of the serpent. (Gen 3:15)

3.  FLEE!  Take to your heels and flee! If the temptation is a person, place or thing, then  run away from the temptation.  He who plays with fire will get burnt.  Many sin because they are dancing with Mr. D.  (Devil).

4. LAZINESS!   At all costs avoid laziness in all forms.  The saying is all too true: “Idleness is the workshop of the devil!”  If you do not have anything to do then the devil will give you plenty to do!  Porn use, drugs, drinking, vandalism, gang activity— all of these are often related to having too much free time on one’s hands.  St. Bonaventure stated, “When one is busy there is one devil that tempts you, but when you have nothing to do, an army of devils circles you and gives you their advice!

5. WEAK POINT!    The last (14th Rule) of Discernment of Spirits, for the first week of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius is precisely this: the devil circles around us like a soldier who encircles a castle, looking for an opening.  When the soldier finds an open window, door ajar, roof not covered, the basement door not locked, then he can enter and plunder, steal and kill.  The devil encircles us and looks for a crack, weak-point, vulnerability to shoot for the kill.  We all have a weak time during the day when we are more prone to fall into temptation.  The devil knows this time!  Do you? In confession or spiritual direction  investigate this point.   Indeed what is my KRYPTONITE???

6. DESOLATION. Lack of faith, lack of hope, lack of love, sad and depressed, discouraged, lukewarm, drawn to the sensual— these are all signs of being in a state of desolation. (Rule 4 for Discernment).  In this state of soul, it is universal: the devil will take advantage of this to tempt, attack, shoot for the kill! Therefore,  in this state, we should be doubly  vigilant and use all the spiritual tools  available to avoid falling into sin!

7. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: TRANSPARENCY.   St. Ignatius also advises us that in times of desolation it is highly encouraged to seek out a confessor or a spiritual director and to be open with him.  That is to say, to reveal one’s state of soul to the experienced director. Why? The devil desires the exact opposite! If this state is kept bottled up within, it is then that the devil can wreak havoc spiritually and turn the mole hill into the mountain. Better to cure the cut right away, before it becomes infected, gangrenous and in need of an amputation. In sum, humility and transparency with one’s director!

8. JOY. Cultivate joy!   St. Paul exhorts us: “Rejoice in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice in the Lord.. (Phil. 4:4).  The devil rejoices in our sadness, but the devil is saddened by our rejoicing! May our joy be abounding, but rooted in love for the Lord.  Mary teaches us where true joy is to be found, in the Lord!  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour…” Note!  Often we commit sin preceded by a state of sadness. Getting drunk, using porn, smoking weed, overeating— all are frequently manifestations of seeking joy but in the wrong place!

9. JESUS’ EXAMPLE IN THE DESERT.   Our true model in everything is Jesus. To conform our lives to the life of Jesus should be the goal of all Christians. In the desert, Jesus was tempted by the devil!  Jesus conquered the enemy!  What were the tools that Jesus used to defeat Satan? The three basic tools were: Prayer, Fasting, and the Word of God.   Jesus spent 40 long days in prayer. Through prayer we can conquer the devil. Temptations are strong, but God is much more powerful. Fasting! Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights; later on in His ministry He will tell the disciples that some devils can be expelled only by prayer and fasting. Finally, the  WORD OF GOD.   The Bible/the Word of God is like a two  edged-sword, that can strike and kill the devil!

10. EXORCISM SAINTS!  Call upon the saints that are invoked in the formal exorcism prayers. Who are these saints?  St Michael, the Archangel, St Joseph (Terror of demons), St. Benedict.  But especially we should call on the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Hail Mary, Rosary, Memorare, Hail Holy Queen are all powerful prayers that put the devil to flight!

In conclusion, the life of man on earth is a warfare.  The devil launches his fiery darts at us because he knows that his time is short. Let us study this “Spiritual Program” seriously so that when temptations come, we will be able to extinguish them and gain greater merit and glory, that is awaiting us, in the Kingdom of Heaven!  Let us pray and work and fight now and then rest forever in heaven!

Pontius
Pilate questioned Jesus, “What is the Truth?”  Jesus, earlier in the
Gospel of John, responded to the question on “Truth”.  Truth is not
simply a philosophical system, nor a trend, nor a mode that is here
today and gone tomorrow.  The “Truth” is a “Person” and that person is
Jesus Christ, who stated unequivocally:   “I am the Way, the TRUTH,  and the Life…”    
A blind man following a blind man will both end up by falling into the
pit. What are concrete ways in which we can be sure that we are
following the light of the Truth? Let’s see!

1. BIBLE.   The Bible is truly the Word of God. St. Jerome stated poignantly, “Ignorance of Sacred Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” (
Vat. II,  Dogmatic Constitution, Dei Verbum).  The Bible should be
light and lamp for our steps and we should be reading, meditating and
praying with the Word of God every day!

2. POPE/VICAR OF CHRIST.    However, it must be highlighted,
that to interpret the Bible properly, we must rely on an authoritative
source: that is the Person and the Teaching of the Holy Father, the
Pope.   When the Holy Father speaks or writes on topics related to
faith, doctrine (dogma), and morals, then he is infallible.  The reason
being, it is the Holy Spirit that is enlightening the Pope. The Holy
Spirit is the God of Truth.

3. MAGISTERIUM AND POPE.   Furthermore, the Bishops teaching in
union with the Holy Father is another reliable source of truth. 
Magisterium refers to the teaching office.

4. CONFESSOR/SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR.   The confessor or spiritual
director must be in union with the Holy Father and the Magisterium. If
so, when being directed by one’s confessor/spiritual director, through
this channel also God will speak.

5. INSPIRATIONS.   These must be tested in the light of what has
been stated above. Some   Counter signs! Inspirations from the Holy
Spirit will never contradict the Word of God; they will not go against
the teaching of the Church. Furthermore, inspirations will not
contradict one’s “State of life”.   Mother of 7,  teen age school boy,
contemplative monk— all of these are in a different “State of life”.
Consequently, their actions should be in conformity with their specific
state of life.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel, attain for us a true hunger for the truth.
May we take positive action steps in our life to search for the truth,
study the truth, live the fullness of the truth, defend the truth and
love the Person who is the Truth— Jesus,  THE WAY, THE TRUTH,  AND THE LIFE!

God has given to every person a conscience. All are called to the serious formation of the conscience.  All are called to learn the difference between “right and wrong”. All are called to avoid evil and pursue the path of goodness. Eternal consequences follow the actions made upon the following of one’s conscience.

Many have a poorly formed conscience.  Pope Pius XII  expressed it bluntly,  “The sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin.”  Indeed this statement of the late Holy Father indicates a loss of the formation of the conscience.  When one loses the sense of God in one’s life, he then logically loses the sense sin and consequently the loss of conscience— of knowing the difference between good and evil.

The obvious consequence of this moral atmosphere is “Situation Ethics”,  “The Dictatorship of Moral relativism”  (Pope Benedict XVI), or  “Cafeteria Catholicism”— meaning, you choose what is right and wrong, what appeals to your moral taste buds and savor it; just dig in! This prevailing moral climate necessarily will lead to confusion, chaos, and war— each one ruthlessly defending his own moral territory!

What  is conscience, a definition?  The concise and clear-minded Jesuit theologian Father John Hardon in his Pocket Catholic Dictionary  defines conscience for us in these words:
” CONSCIENCE.  The judgment of the practical intellect deciding, from general principles of faith and reason, the goodness or badness of a way of acting that a person now faces. It is an operation of the intellect and not of the feelings or even of the will. An action is right or wrong because of objective principles to which the mind must subscribe, not because a person subjectively feels that way or because his will wants that way…..Always the role of conscience is to decide subjectively on the ethical propriety of a specific action, here and now, for this person, in these circumstances. But always, too, the decision is a mental conclusion derived from objective norms that conscience does not determine on its own, receiving it as given by the Author of nature and divine grace.”  (Pocket Catholic Dictionary,  Fr. John Hardon, S.J. page 89)

This being said, there are many who have a deformed, mal-formed,  callous or even deadened conscience.  What are the various forms of conscience we might have, or run into today. We will give a list and see where you might fall and then make the decision , for the good of your own salvation that of your family ,the church , and the whole world, to form your conscience correctly, in the light of reason, guided by faith under the supervision of the Holy Father and Magisterium of the Church!

1.  ERRONEOUS CONSCIENCE.  Means a conscience that is darkened due to errors. “Erroneous” means a conscience plagued with “Errors”. Examples have no end, but here is one!  Sujectivism!  “I go to Holy Mass when I feel like it!” Error!  Attendance at Mass is obligatory binding, and missing without reason is a Mortal sin!

2. LAX CONSCIENCE.   A conscience that has become so dulled to moral truth and the working of the Holy Spirit that it is only aware of the most egregious sins that he commits! Example: Person who goes to confession after 25 years and cannot confess anything and says point blank: “I have not killed nor robbed that bank; I am a good guy!”   The Italians put it this way, “No faccio mal a nessuno!!!” (I have done no evil to anybody!)

3 SUPPRESSED CONSCIENCE.   The person has purposely held back or blocked out the willingness to know the truth. Example: Book of Daniel, when the two elders purposely fail to look to heaven (blocking God out) and pursue their lusts as they try to force the chaste Susanna into committing adultery.  Due to lust, these elders had “Suppressed” their consciences! Frequently, by becoming slaves to passion and lust, the net result is the suppression of the conscience!

4. DOUBTFUL CONSCIENCE.  Moral theology maintains this sacred principle: “Never act on a doubtful conscience!” The reason: one is risking offending God by sin!   Remedy and solution: consult a confessor, or spiritual director, or orthodox text on moral theology to clarify the doubt! Search for the “Truth” in the proper place and you will find it!

5. SEARED/CAUTERIZED CONSCIENCE.   A conscience that has been”Burned”, greatly defaced, seriously damaged to the point of almost being dead to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

6. HARDENED CONSCIENCE.    We are either drawing closer to God or drifting away. Remember the words of the poet:  “The sun beat down on two different surfaces:  wax and mud; the latter hardened, the former, softened. Either we are wax and becoming more docile to God’s inspirations and grace or we are mud, becoming more hardened to God’s  grace! Example:  A couple living in “Free union”  (Cohabitation). They have been invited to Sacramental marriage, gently rebuked by relatives and friends, have heard exhortations in homilies and even retreats, but have hardened their hearts.   “If today you hear his voice, harden not yours hearts as in Meribah and Massah in the desert…” (Psalm 95)

7.  DEAD CONSCIENCE.  God respects human freedom.  Pope John Paul II calls mortal sin, “Moral suicide”. One can decide to kill the voice of conscience. I remember hearing of a case of a woman who had 28 abortions! At first, her conscience– most likely— rebuked her (“Sting of conscience”), but gradually she suppressed, cauterized, and eventually killed her conscience!

8. SCRUPULOUS CONSCIENCE.   Father John Hardon S.J., once again, defines this conscience for us.   SCRUPLE.  Unreasonable doubt about the morality of an act done or to be done.  Its basis is an erroneous conscience combined with a lack of control of the emotion of fear. (Catholic Dictionary, Father John Hardon page 399).   It can be a sick conscience that exaggerates the small to wide proportions and at the same time can be blind to what is truly serious. Saints have passed through this stage: St. Ignatius, St. Maximillian Kolbe, and even St. Therese of Lisieux, for a short time.  Remedy: strict obedience to one’s confessor!

9.  HEALTHY CONSCIENCE.    A conscience that has had a proper formation in truth and responds correctly to human acts.   A healthy conscience, when he has done something wrong experiences pangs, biting(St. Ignatius), remorse/sadness. This is healthy!  However, if he does good, he experiences joy, happiness and peace and a sense of wholeness and satisfaction!  One of the greatest blessings in the world is to experience the peace of a well-formed conscience that is resting in the knowledge of doing God’s will! Whereas,  a tortured conscience sullied by evil and sin is “Hell on earth!”   Lady Macbeth had to wash her hands over and over, striving to wash away the guilt of murderous blood on her conscience!

10. DELICATE CONSCIENCE.   The conscience of the saints!  Not only has this person formed a healthy conscience; even more a “delicate” conscience!  This means that slight sins, lack of response to grace, imperfections, lack of total generosity towards God  (Magnanimity) results in the pricking/ gentle rebuke of the conscience! Welcome to the “Hall of the saints!” Saints, not only fight fiercely against all forms of sins in their lives, but they labor, with the help of God’s grace, to be docile and constantly open to God’s gentle but constant and insistent inspirations. Our model is the Blessed Virgin Mary and her total openness to grace and the working of the Holy Spirit in her life.

Conclusion! Let us make a concerted effort to work on forming our consciences, in the light of reason, faith, the Holy Father and the teaching of the Magisterium of the Church.  Finally, parents, must recognize their moral duty before God to form the conscience of their children! May God assist us in this challenging but exceedingly important  OPUS DEI— work of God!  “Come Holy Spirit come, through the intercession of Mary most holy.”