Conscience is the human spirit's ability to distinguish between good and evil

Conscience is the human spirit's ability to distinguish between good and evil, the awareness of good and evil (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov), and a natural law that demands of the human mind a life pleasing to God (St. Abba Dorotheus). Conscience is the human spirit's ability to distinguish between good and evil, the awareness of good and evil (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov), and a natural law that demands of the human mind a life pleasing to God (St. Abba Dorotheus). Every person is familiar with their inner voice, which sometimes reproaches and oppresses them, sometimes encourages and delights them. This subtle, innate moral sense is called conscience. Conscience is a kind of spiritual instinct that distinguishes good from evil more quickly and clearly than the mind. He who follows the voice of conscience will not regret their actions. In Holy Scripture, conscience is also called the heart. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus Christ likened conscience to an "eye" through which a person perceives their moral state (Matt. 6:22). The Lord also likened conscience to an "adversary" with whom a person must reconcile before appearing before the Judge (Matt. 5:25). This last designation indicates the distinctive quality of conscience: its resistance to our evil actions and intentions. Our personal experience also convinces us that this inner voice, called conscience, is beyond our control and expresses itself directly, against our will. Just as we cannot convince ourselves that we are full when we are hungry, or that we are rested when we are tired, so we cannot convince ourselves that we have acted well when our conscience tells us that we have acted poorly. Some see in Christ's words about the "undying worm" that will torment sinners in the next life a reference to remorse from conscience (Mark 9:40). Life is given for good deeds. However, you live, just do not anger God. Bad deeds will not lead to good.