СОВЕСТЬ

1. God Himself speaks in conscience. Do nothing against your conscience You wrote that your conscience often bothers you after conversations with visitors. This seems to be the source of your irritability. It is very surprising that this is the case. But there is an urgent law - do not allow anything that your conscience rebels against, and if you please, do so. God Himself speaks in conscience. Therefore, one must listen to it above all else (1, p. 120). 2. We must not allow even small actions that are convicted by conscience You wrote that you allow some minor actions, for which your conscience later denounces you. This, no matter how much strength we have, must be prevented. Peace of conscience is the first condition for a peaceful relationship with God, and these latter constitute the conditions for spiritual success in the inner life. To conquer your desires, knowing that it is better to refuse them than to obey them, is a sacrifice pleasing to God, for which He will reward with inner consolation. And to lower these cases to victory over oneself means to place pleasing God below self-pleasing. When the enemy tells you ahead: “Make such and such an order,” do not listen to him, but, having driven away his hostility towards him and his lessons, continue your prayer without interruption (3, p. 231). You might be interested in: