The 26th Step of John’s Ladder deals with the idea of DISCERNMENT. One of the component of discernment is, of course, perceiving the will of God. In order to do this it is critical that we work to develop an “informed conscience.”

According to Catholic teaching and doctrine, a good conscience can be revealed through natural law (informed) or through the teachings of Jesus Christ. A conscience should be educated in God’s word and obtained through the practices of Jesus.

Saint John Paul II described a correct conscience as one that involves a judgment that is in accordance with objective truth. An erroneous conscience, however, involves a judgment that is purely subjective and thought to be true when it is not.

Catholic teaching encourages people to live as disciples of Christ, without ignoring concerns for human dignity, such as poverty and racism. A well-formed conscience can help guide a person to make the right moral and ethical choices in life. Catholic teaching says that individuals have a duty to examine their conscience and consult with others to keep their conscience in check and informed. Making good choices keeps a Christian’s virtue and integrity intact. The development of an informed conscience is ultimately the obligation of all Christians.

Note that St. John uses the term God-directed conscience. Even our conscience may not be in accordance with God’s will, and so the conscience must be purified if it is to be a true guide for our spiritual life: Those who wish to discover the will of God must begin by mortifying their own will.

Given that very few of us can really rely on conscience alone to perceive the will of God, what other options are left to us? We should turn humbly and in confidence to the Fathers of the Church – Tradition – and we should accept their counsel.