Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor explore how the Liturgy of the Word shapes conscience and draws the faithful into a deeper encounter with Christ. Conscience is not a mystical faculty but the human mind oriented toward discerning right and wrong, always influenced by what and whom we love. Because the mind is constantly being formed by outside voices, it is crucial to attend to the Word of God proclaimed at Mass, where Christ himself enters through language. Unlike mere information or historical detail, Scripture proclaimed in the liturgy is meant to bring transformation—similar to Christ’s dialogue with the Samaritan woman at the well. By allowing the Word to “take up residence” within, a person gradually shifts from deriving identity from worldly approval to resting in their Catholic identity, formed within the community of the Church.

The liturgy is not simply storytelling or nostalgia but a living prayer in which Christ becomes present and personally addresses each heart. To benefit fully, preparation is vital—reading the Scriptures beforehand ensures they penetrate deeply during Mass rather than fading like an overheard announcement. Within the liturgy, there is both a general message for the whole Church and a unique “particularization” by the Holy Spirit for each person’s circumstances, offering moments of genuine conversion. The Liturgy of the Word, then, is not passive listening but an encounter that requires hospitality toward God’s presence, openness to interior change, and the courage to allow conscience to be guided from within by the Word received through the Church.

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

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