A Summary on the Laity in Gaudium et Spes
PAGE 4 GS 16
The Council teaches that conscience is the “most secret core” of the person, where one is alone with God and hears His voice.
“Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a man . There he is alone with God, Whose voice echoes in his depths.”
It is the place where you recognise what is truly good and what is not, what leads toward love and what leads away from it.
For the laity, this means:
decisions are made before God,
responsibility cannot be delegated,
faith must be lived from within, not imposed by external pressure.
Conscience is essential in the laity’s apostolate for it guides:
your decisions at work,
the way you raise your children,
the choices you make in relationships,
how you respond to injustice,
how you use your influence,
and how you navigate the complexity of modern life.
The Council teaches that conscience must be formed, not just followed. It grows through:
prayer,
Scripture,
the teachings of the Church,
wise counsel,
an honest engagement with moral truth and reality
and the quiet honesty of your own heart before God.
When your conscience is formed in this way, your apostolate becomes clearer.
You begin to see what God is asking of you in the ordinary situations of your life.
You recognise when to speak, when to act, when to stand firm, and when to be gentle.
Conscience is not a private opinion, but a judgment made in the light of truth before God.
It is the place where God meets you and sends you into the world with clarity, determination and peace.