ABIDING PEACE

No man safely enjoys life except the men whose conscience is clear. The wicked never have true joy nor real interior peace. They may say that they have peace and that they neither expect nor fear any harm from above. Either they are lying or they are fools.

A bad conscience is afraid and disturbed. A good conscience has peace even in time of hardship. The good man's glory lies in the testimony of good conscience. There is no freedom nor profitable joy without a clear conscience. The man with a dull conscience will find distractions and interests in many things, but he has not the abiding peace of those who live for Heaven.

Every person must have sufficient interior awareness so he can hear and follow his conscience. Conscience must be enlightened by faith so that persons and groups will turn aside from blind choices.

"Turn inward, brethren and in everything you do,

see God as your witness."

St. Augustine

THE GIFT OF INNER PEACE

Regardless of feelings, moods, prejudices, or preferences, strive to maintain a right intention at all times. As soon as your natural desires contradict God’s will, check them as you would check any other foolish intention.

Do not let life’s daily events disturb nor affect you too much. Seek to know His will and to accept it in all things. With this pure intention, you will have a deep interior peace. This is God’s gift to those who let Him govern their lives.

Our intentions tend to become dim as we proceed through our daily occupations. Gradually we are influenced more by pleasure or self-satisfaction. Therefore, let us renew our pure intentions at different times during the day.