Forming a True Conscience and Learning the Meaning of Sacrifice

By Father Robert J. Fox( 1927-2009)

One of the most urgent responsibilities of every Christian is the formation of conscience. Conscience is often spoken of as though it were merely a personal feeling or an interior preference. But conscience must be more than a feeling. It must be guided by truth.

A person may sincerely believe that something is right while still being mistaken. Sincerity alone does not make an action good. We must therefore educate our conscience throughout life, allowing it to be shaped by the Word of God, the teachings of the Church, prayer, and a humble willingness to follow the truth wherever it leads.

Sacred Scripture gives us the revealed Word of God. The Church, through her Magisterium, faithfully teaches the truths entrusted to her by Christ. When we sincerely seek to know and obey these truths, our conscience becomes more capable of recognizing what is right and rejecting what is wrong.

The guardian angel also assists the soul that sincerely desires to live in God’s friendship. God does not abandon those who seek Him honestly. He gives grace, light, and direction. Yet we must cooperate with that grace. We must resist the temptation to excuse sin merely because it is common, convenient, or socially accepted.

The Danger of a False Conscience

A false conscience is one that has been formed by error, habit, pride, or the influence of the world rather than by the law of God. It can persuade a person that wrongdoing is acceptable simply because others approve of it or because it appears to produce an immediate benefit.

Many people seek a clear explanation of conscience because they recognize the confusion of our times. We are surrounded by voices that tell us to follow ourselves, to create our own standards, and to treat moral truth as something flexible. But God’s truth does not change according to fashion, public opinion, or personal convenience.

The Christian must ask: What does God ask of me? What does the Church teach? What is truly right, not merely what is easy?

This requires humility. It requires regular examination of conscience. It requires confession when we have fallen. It requires the courage to admit that we need instruction, correction, and grace.

A Lesson Received From Missionaries

On one occasion, after speaking on conscience, I received visitors who had spent time serving in missionary lands. Their accounts gave a living example of what it means to sacrifice for the salvation and welfare of others.

Among them was a religious sister who had spent more than three decades in Africa among people living in severe poverty. Her life, and the life of the sisters with whom she served, was marked by conditions few of us can easily imagine. The people lived in simple mud dwellings. The missionaries themselves accepted hardship and insecurity in order to be near those they served.

At night, they often slept outdoors under protective nets because of insects and snakes. Food was whatever could be found. Their lives included discomfort, danger, and continual exposure to poverty and illness. The threat of poisonous snakes and other dangers was not theoretical; it was part of their daily surroundings.

A priest also spoke of missionary work in Ecuador and in Africa. His account revealed similar sacrifices. These missionaries did not serve because their lives were easy. They served because they believed that every soul is precious to God and worthy of being reached with the love of Christ.

Sacrifice Reveals Love

Listening to these accounts brought a humbling realization. It is easy to think that we have made great sacrifices because we have experienced inconvenience, disappointment, or a demanding schedule. But the sacrifices of missionaries who leave comfort, security, and familiarity for the poor reveal another measure of generosity.

Their lives remind us that love is not merely a sentiment. Love gives. Love endures. Love accepts hardship for the good of another.

Christ Himself gave us the perfect example. He did not save us from a distance. He entered our world, accepted poverty, rejection, suffering, and the Cross. Every genuine Christian sacrifice is united, in some small way, to His sacrifice.

Not everyone is called to missionary work in a distant land. But every Christian is called to sacrifice. A father sacrifices for his family. A mother sacrifices in the daily work of raising children. Priests, religious, teachers, workers, and the elderly all have opportunities to offer their burdens to God in love.

The Call Before Us

A well-formed conscience will lead us beyond self-interest. It will ask not only, “What do I want?” but also, “What does God want of me?” It will help us see the needs of others and respond with generosity.

We may not be asked to sleep outdoors in a mission field, to face dangerous conditions, or to live among extreme poverty. Yet we are called to be faithful in the place where God has put us. We are called to pray, to serve, to give, to forgive, and to accept the crosses permitted in our lives.

The world needs men and women of true conscience—people who know the truth, love the truth, and live it with courage. It also needs souls willing to sacrifice, whether in public service or the hidden duties of daily life.

When conscience is formed according to the truth of God, sacrifice is no longer meaningless suffering. It becomes an offering of love. And when love is offered to God, even the smallest act can become a source of grace for others and a step toward eternal life.