MyCatholicSource.com - 'Quick Help' Page: Questions About Faith

Answer / Resources:

[click link(s) below, as applicable]

Please see below for answers to your questions...

What faith is...

"Faith is the virtue by which we firmly believe all the truths God has revealed, on the word of God revealing them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived." (Baltimore Catechism)

"Faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not." (St. Paul, Heb. 11:1)

"[F]aith is a habit of the mind, whereby eternal life is begun in us, making the intellect assent to what is non-apparent." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

"[F]aith is a virtue whereby we believe what we do not see" (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church)

"Faith is the first bond which unites us to God. It is faith that gives us to know Him, and reveals to us the object of our hope and of our love. Our faith should be dearer to us than our life, and we should be ever praying for its increase." (Liturgical Year)

"[F]aith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation, and the root of all Justification; without which it is impossible to please God, and to come unto the fellowship of His sons" (Council of Trent)

Faith is a gift from God – it is one of the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit (see here).

As indicated in the 'Feed Your Faith' section of our site...

"Faith is a gift from God. No tip or suggestion... will automatically give you an increase of faith... Although one cannot attain to or strengthen one's faith simply on one's own efforts, one may hinder faith by one's own efforts (e.g. obstacles to grace, persistence in sin, etc.). Thankfully, though, it is possible to help one another in the struggle, as our Lord himself told St. Peter: 'I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.' (Lk. 22:32) Of course, prayer and the sacraments are essential to strengthening faith..."

For tips for strengthening faith, try here (select "view" to view tips).

For quotations on faith such as thee following from popes, saints, etc., try here and here...

"[N]othing is more fitted for the nourishment of divine faith than the pious habit of prayer" (Pope Leo XIII, "Exeunte Iam Anno", 1888 A.D.)

"[W]e have need of faith, the mother of all good, the medicine of salvation, in order to obtain any real good. They who endeavor without it, are like men who venture on the sea without a boat, and, being able to swim only a little way, are drowned." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church)

"Those who lack the faith are to recommended particularly to Mary as a means to finding Christ, the Son of God." (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)

"[Faith] grows brighter and stronger under trial." (Liturgical Year)

As Scripture says in Heb. 11:6-7...

"But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen, with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household. Through this he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith."

For more Scripture try... (click link to view)

* Topical Scripture: faith / faithful

* Jesus' Teachings (select "f" for faith)

* More New Testament Teachings (select "f" for faith)

Also try... (click link to view)

* For prayers for faith, try here (e.g. "f" for faith)

* For basics of the Catholic faith, try here

* For defense of the Catholic faith, try here

* For apologetics concerning the 'faith alone' theory, try here

Hope that helps.

Reminder: We make no guarantee whatsoever regarding any item herein. Items herein may be the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect our views. All applicable items may be subject to change at any time without notice. Utilize any link(s) appearing on this page at your own risk. For more terms information, see "Important Notice" below.