What is faith ?

Faith is the power by which we assent to God, acknowledge his truth and commit ourselves personally to him. Faith is the path created by God leading to the truth that God himself. Because Jesus is “the way, and the truth and the life” (Jn14:6), this faith cannot be merely an attitude or “confidence” about something or other. On the other hand the faith has definite contents, which the church profess in the creed and it is her duty to safeguard them. Anyone who wants to believe acknowledges this faith, which has been preserved constantly through ages and in many different cultures. On the other hand, part of faith is a trusting relationship to God with heart and mind, with all one’s emotional strength. For faith becomes effective only through charity, practical love (Gal5:6). Whether someone really believes in the God of love is shown, not in his solemn affirmations, but rather in charitable deeds. {You cat- 307}