PART I.
FAITH.
Chapter I. Faith in General.
§ 1. Nature and Necessity of Faith.
1. What is Faith?
Faith is a virtue infused by God into our souls, by which we believe, without doubting, all those things which God has revealed, and proposes by His Church to our belief.
'To believe' means, in general, to hold to be true what another says, and for this reason, because he says it. To believe God means, therefore, to hold firmly and without doubting what God has revealed, and because He has revealed it, although we can neither see nor completely understand it; for faith is founded, not on our seeing or complete understanding, but on the word of God. 'Faith is the evidence of things that appear not' (Hebr. xi. 1).
2. Why do we say that faith is infused by God into our souls?
Because it is a gift of God, and an effect of His grace, which enlightens our understanding and moves our will to believe, without doubting, all those things which God has revealed.
'For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: for it is the gift of God' (Eph. ii. 8).
3. Why must grace not only enlighten our understanding, but also move our will?
Because a good will also belongs to faith; for no one can believe but he who is willing to believe.
