YOUCAT*: Faith is knowledge and trust. It has seven characteristics:
- Faith is a sheer gift of God, which we receive when we fervently ask for it.
- Faith is the supernatural power that is absolutely necessary if we are to attain salvation.
- Faith requires the free will and clear understanding of a person when he or she accepts the divine invitation.
- Faith is absolutely certain, because Jesus guarantees it.
- Faith is incomplete unless it leads to active love.
- Faith grows when we listen more and more carefully to God’s Word and enter a lively exchange with him in prayer.
- Faith gives us even now a foretaste of the joy of heaven.
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
On Oct. 11, 2012, we began the Year of Faith, declared by Pope Benedict XVI. During this year, we are called to re-examine and dive deeper into our faith, as well as share it with others. So what is faith? Faith is our response to God’s invitation for us to share in his divine life.
Our faith journey begins at our Baptism, but it continues each day of our lives. Each day we wake up, we have to make a choice for Christ. We should always be looking for ways to grow in our faith. Our faith in Christ isn’t just a “thing” that we have — our faith has to change us.
#YearofFaith Challenge: Allow yourself to grow closer to God. Take each day as a new day to discover God’s love and mercy.
*Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church
Lisa Gomes is the director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
