Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 307.

YOUCAT Question n. 307 - What is faith?

(Youcat answer) Faith is the power by which we assent to God, acknowledge his truth, and commit ourselves personally to him.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1814) Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith "man freely commits his entire self to God" (DV 5). For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God's will. "The righteous shall live by faith." Living faith "work[s] through charity" (Rom 1:17; Gal 5:6). (CCC 1815) The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it (Cf. Council of Trent (1547): DS 1545). But "faith apart from works is dead" (Jas 2:26): when it is deprived of hope and love, faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body.   

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Faith is the path created by God leading to the truth that is God himself. Because Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6), this faith cannot be merely an attitude or “confidence” about something or other. On the one hand, the faith has definite contents, which the Church professes in the Creed (= profession of faith), and it is her duty to safeguard them. Anyone who wants to accept the gift of faith, in other words, anyone who wants to believe, acknowledges this faith, which has been preserved constantly through the 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 (see Gal 5:6). Whether someone really believes in the God of love is shown, not in his solemn affirmations, but rather in charitable deeds.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1816) The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: "All however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks" (LG 42; cf. DH 14). Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: "So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Mt 10:32-33). (CCC 1842) By faith, we believe in God and believe all that he has revealed to us and that Holy Church proposes for our belief.

(The next question is: What is hope?)

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 306.

YOUCAT Question n. 306 - Why are faith, hope, and charity virtues?

(Youcat answer) Faith, hope, and charity, too, are genuine powers-bestowed by God, of course—that a person can develop and consolidate with the grace of God so as to obtain “the abundant life” (see Jn 10:10).

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1841) There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. They inform all the moral virtues and give life to them.

Reflecting and meditating 

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1840) The theological virtues dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have God for their origin, their motive, and their object - God known by faith, God hoped in and loved for his own sake.  

(The next question is: What is faith?)

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 305.

YOUCAT Question n. 305 - What are the three supernatural virtues?

(Youcat answer) The supernatural virtues are faith, hope, and charity. They are called “supernatural” because they have their foundation in God, are directly related to God, and are for us men the way by which we can reach God directly.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1812) The human virtues are rooted in the theological virtues, which adapt man's faculties for participation in the divine nature (Cf. 2 Pet 1:4): for the theological virtues relate directly to God. They dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have the One and Triune God for their origin, motive, and object. (CCC 1840) The theological virtues dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have God for their origin, their motive, and their object - God known by faith, God hoped in and loved for his own sake. 

Reflecting and meditating 

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1813) The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being. There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity (Cf. 1 Cor 13:13).

(The next question is: Why are faith, hope, and charity virtues?)

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 304.

YOUCAT Question n. 304 - Why is it virtuous to be moderate?

(Youcat answer) Moderation is a virtue because immoderate behavior proves to be a destructive force in all areas of life.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1809 a) Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart" (Sir 5:2; cf. 37:27-31). Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites" (Sir 18:30). In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world" (Titus 2:12).

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Someone who is immoderate abandons himself to the rule of his impulses, offends others by his inordinate desires, and harms himself. In the New Testament words like “sobriety” and “discretion” stand for “moderation”.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1809 b) To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence) (St. Augustine, De moribus eccl. 1, 25, 46: PL 32, 1330-1331). (CCC 1838) Temperance moderates the attraction of the pleasures of the senses and provides balance in the use of created goods.

(The next question is: What are the three supernatural virtues?)

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 303.

YOUCAT Question n. 303 - What does it mean to have fortitude?

(Youcat answer) Someone who practices fortitude perseveres in his commitment to the good, once he has recognized it, even if in the extreme case he must sacrifice even his own life for it.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1808) Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. "The Lord is my strength and my song" (Ps 118:14). "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33).   

Reflecting and meditating 

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1837) Fortitude ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.

(The next question is: Why is it virtuous to be moderate?)