Lesson 2 – Conscience

Hello, Everyone –

Please join us for our 2nd week of the newly-launched Fulton Sheen catechism class. Last week was our maiden voyage, we had seven guys stick around to listen to Lesson 1 – Todd, Oscar, TJ, Nick, Issac, Kevin, and me. Lesson 1 was on the basic question we all face: what is the meaning of life? We know that the world is broken up into two camps – those that wake up and say, “Good morning, God!” and those who wake up and say, “Good God! morning…” He talked about the escapes that people make in avoiding that essential question of life – love of speed, sex, work – today we would add endless hours on social media and Candy Crush and binging on Netflix! (Full disclosure – I am guilty of many of those new forms) He closes with two concrete suggestions for those people who are stuck – first, help your neighbor, and in your neighbor you will find love and begin to break out of the barrel of your ego – and second, be open to mysterious and invisible impulses from the Divine. An awesome lesson and awesome beginning!

This week in Lesson 2, Bishop Sheen will talk about conscience – what is it and where did it come from? It didn’t come from us – if it did, we’d remove it at the first opportunity! It didn’t come from society, because often society says things are good when we know they are bad, and vice versa.

Here's an excerpt:

So we have a law, “thou shalt, thou shalt not.” Where does this law come from? From myself? No, if it did I could do away with it. If I made it, I could unmake it. Does it come from society? It does not, because sometimes conscience praises me when society condemns me and sometimes conscience will condemn me when society praises me. Where does it come from then, if not from myself? Where then does the Executive side of conscience come from? It too judges whether or not I have obeyed that law, it says “I was there, Lesson 2 – Conscienc e Audio (mp3) Lesson 2 – Conscienc e Lesson (pdf) I saw you!” And though others will say, “oh pay no attention to it,” one knows very well that one must and one also knows the motives that inspire the act and finally it judges us. And if therefore, it praises us for certain actions and we feel somewhat the same happiness and joy that we would from being praised by a father or mother. If we feel the same sadness and unhappiness that we feel when condemned by a father or a mother, it must be that behind conscience is some person, the Divine Thou. It is the standard of our life.

Now that you know we are doing this thing, please try to carve out an extra hour to stick around and grow our group – I promise you it will be worth the effort and time. ALSO – we are opening up this group to your better halves and your high school and above children – so consider asking your wife or girlfriend or son or daughter to join us as well. Doesn’t have to be related to you either – anyone is welcome!

Thanks to Kevin for taking over as moderator at towards the end of the hour so I could leave and prepare for our 9:00 Sheen group in the St. Cecilia’s room – Issac and Kevin came to both Sheen groups and enjoyed both! That opportunity is available to you as well.

Hope to see more of you on Saturday! Remember if you can print out the transcript and bring with you, although I will have extra copies for those who don’t.

God love you!
Phil Rosenfeld