The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 239 – The Formation of Conscience
Date: August 27, 2025
Catechism Paragraphs: 1783–1789

Overview

In Day 239 of “The Catechism in a Year,” Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the formation of conscience—a critical facet of Christian moral life as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). He reflects on the lifelong responsibility to form one’s conscience, the necessity of both intellectual and personal growth, and the indispensable role of reason, virtue, and grace in making moral decisions. Fr. Mike uses relatable analogies and real-life stories to stress why a well-formed conscience matters and how it truly leads to freedom and peace of heart.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What is a Formed Conscience?

• A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful, formulating judgments in accordance with reason and God’s law. (03:07)
• Intellectual knowledge is only part of the equation; choosing the good is also essential.

"It's one thing to know the right thing to do, and it's another thing to do it." (01:06, Fr. Mike)

2. Formation is Both Intellectual and Moral

• Conscience isn't just intellect or will—it's a unique combination requiring both. (01:36)
• It’s not enough to know the good (intellectually); we must also choose it (formation of will).

3. Education of Conscience – A Lifelong Task

• Conscience formation must begin in childhood and never ends. (06:33)
• Moral formation is necessary because we’re all subject to negative influences and sin.

"Without formation, the negative influences of the world around us will continue to take us off our axis." (10:11, Fr. Mike)

4. Why Do I Think This? – The Need for Reasoned Judgment

• A formed conscience means being able to answer why we think or judge something is good or bad. (11:23)
• Fr. Mike challenges listeners:

"If I can't give a reason why I think this is good, or I can't give a reason why I think this is bad, then...I don't have a reason. That is not an example of a well-formed conscience." (12:41)

5. Negative Influences and the Myth of the Noble Savage

• Humans are not naturally unspoiled; we require formation due to inner inclination to sin.

"We're not born noble savages where everything we want is automatically good. We also are born with broken hearts and, again, dimmed intellects." (14:35)

6. Virtue and Practical Application

• Knowledge of moral law is insufficient without practice.
• Fr. Mike references (paraphrased) C.S. Lewis: Knowing the virtues but being raised by those who ignore them disconnects knowledge from action. (17:51)

7. Freedom and Peace of Heart

• Properly educated conscience frees us from fear, pride, resentment, and engenders true peace. (19:38)

"The education of conscience isn’t just so that I feel bad about everything now...but to learn the good, the true, the beautiful, and actually choose and live the true, the good, and the beautiful—how amazing would that be?" (20:58)

8. Scriptural Foundations and Examination Before the Cross

• The Word of God is a light for discernment (Psalm 119 referenced).
• Examination of conscience is best done before the Cross—seeing both the need for mercy and the example of Christ’s love and sacrifice (22:09).

"My conscience needs to be examined before that kind of love." (23:30)

9. Complexity of Moral Judgments

• Not all moral decisions are clear; some are difficult and require prudence and guidance (24:10).
• In uncertainty, seek input from competent people, reflect on experience, seek the Holy Spirit's help.

10. Three Universal Moral Rules (CCC 1789)

Fr. Mike summarizes the “always true” moral rules:

1. Never do evil so that good may result.
2. The Golden Rule: “Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.” (Matthew 7:12)
3. Charity means respecting your neighbor’s conscience—don’t act in ways that make others stumble (“scandal”). (26:00)

• Illustrative anecdote:
  Fr. Mike shares a challenging family hypothetical (“kidnapper scenario”) to illustrate that one may never choose evil (e.g., murder) even to bring about a good result. (27:31)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Intellectual Honesty:

  "I started paying attention to what I was saying and I realized that this massive percent of the day I was saying things that I didn't believe were true."
  — Fr. Mike (07:21, relaying a story)

• On Personal Challenge:

  "Sometimes we think that if I learn all the moral laws and moral commandments from the Lord, that now I'm just gonna feel guilty about everything. Well...if our education and formation and conscience would help us learn the good, the true, the beautiful, and actually choose and live [them], how amazing would that be?" (20:58)

• On Examining Our Lives:

  "Here is Jesus on the cross... pouring himself out in love. Okay, so now my conscience needs to be examined before that kind of love." (23:30)

• On the Universal Rules:

  "One may never do evil, so that good may result from it. Always, always true. Even in a complex world." (26:03)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|-------------| | 01:06 | Knowing good vs. choosing good | | 03:07 | Definition of a well-formed conscience | | 06:33 | Lifelong task of conscience formation | | 10:11 | Negative influences and the need for education | | 12:41 | Importance of having a reason for moral judgments | | 17:51 | C.S. Lewis illustration: knowledge vs. upbringing | | 19:38 | Conscience education guarantees freedom and peace | | 22:09 | Examining conscience before the Cross | | 24:10 | Complexity in making moral judgments | | 26:03 | Three always-applicable moral rules | | 27:31 | Family/kidnapper example: never do evil for good |

Tone and Language

Fr. Mike’s tone throughout is warm, conversational, and at times gently challenging. He uses analogies, personal stories, and rhetorical questions to help listeners reflect honestly on their own lives. His message both consoles and convicts, encouraging active formation of conscience through faith, reason, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Summary Takeaways

• The formation of conscience is a lifelong task requiring ongoing intellectual, spiritual, and moral development.
• A well-formed conscience leads not to greater guilt but to real freedom and peace.
• Christians must consistently examine both their reasons for moral judgments and their willingness to act on what is right.
• Certain moral rules are always binding: Never do evil that good may come, follow the Golden Rule, and never lead others to stumble.
• The Holy Spirit, the Church, scripture, and wise counsel are all necessary aids.
• Above all, formation of conscience is about transformation, not just information.

End of Summary