*** Section 3: Faith ***

3-1 Need for Religion

Why do we need religion, and why not form our own spiritual life or rely on ourselves?

Religion is necessary because it provides the divinely revealed truth and grace needed for salvation, which human efforts alone cannot attain. God created us to know, love, and serve Him, and religion—specifically the Catholic faith—offers the true path to fulfill this purpose through His revealed will and sacraments. Forming our own spiritual life or relying solely on ourselves risks error, as human reason is limited and prone to sin, lacking the full truth found in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. The Catholic Church, as Christ’s institution, provides objective guidance, the Eucharist, and other sacraments, which unite us to God’s grace in a way that personal spirituality or self-reliance cannot. Without religion’s structure and authority, individuals may drift into subjective beliefs or moral relativism, jeopardizing their eternal union with God, who designed the Church as the ordinary means to draw humanity to Himself.

3-2 The Soul

What is a soul?

A soul is the spiritual, immortal part of a human being, created directly by God, which animates the body and constitutes our true self. The soul is made in God’s image, endowed with intellect and will, distinguishing us from mere animals, enabling us to know, love, and serve Him. At Baptism, we receive sanctifying grace, placing us in a state of grace, in friendship with God. We must protect it by keeping the soul free from mortal sin because it is our soul’s condition at death that determines our eternal fate: Heaven or Hell. This requires avoiding sin, frequenting the sacraments like Confession and the Eucharist, and living virtuously. The soul’s ultimate purpose is union with God, making it the most precious part of our being, infinitely more valuable than the perishable body.

3-3 Baptism

What is Baptism?

Baptism is the first and foundational sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ, through which a person is cleansed of original sin, reborn as a child of God, and incorporated into the Catholic Church. Baptism removes the stain of the sin of Adam and Eve inherited by all humanity, infuses sanctifying grace, and imprints an indelible spiritual mark, making one a member of Christ’s mystical body. Baptism is typically performed by a priest, who pours water over the forehead of the person while saying, “I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” In cases of necessity, anyone—even a non-Catholic—can baptize, provided they use water, intend to do what the Church does, and use these words. The ordinary minister is a priest or deacon, but the Church allows laypeople to baptize in emergencies, such as imminent death, ensuring access to this sacrament necessary for salvation (John 3:5).

3-4 Grace

What is grace, and what does it mean to be in a state of grace?

Grace is the supernatural gift from God that sanctifies us, strengthens our souls, and enables us to live holy lives and attain eternal salvation. It is a share in God’s own life. It is divided into sanctifying grace, which makes us holy and pleasing to Him, and actual grace, which helps us perform good acts. We receive grace primarily through the sacraments instituted by Christ—Baptism initiates it, Confession restores it, the Eucharist sustains it—administered by the Catholic Church. Additionally, we can obtain grace through prayer, good works, and a devout life, but it begins with God’s free initiative, requiring our cooperation through faith and openness to His will, as it cannot be earned but must be accepted. To be in a state of grace means to possess sanctifying grace in the soul, a condition lost through mortal sin but restored through Confession.

3-5 Sin

What is sin, and why should we strive to let go of all attachments to sin?

Sin is an offense against God, a deliberate violation of His law through thought, word, deed, or omission, which disrupts our relationship with Him and harms our soul. Sin is either mortal—destroying grace and meriting Hell if unrepented—or venial, weakening charity without breaking communion with God. We should strive to let go of all attachments to sin because it enslaves us to our fallen nature, draws us away from our purpose of loving God, and risks eternal separation from Him (John 8:34). By detaching from sin through repentance, prayer (the Three Hail Marys Devotion), and the sacraments—especially Confession—we align ourselves with Christ’s redemption, grow in holiness, and prepare for Heaven, where no sin can enter, ensuring our ultimate happiness with God.

3-6 Unforgivable Sin

What is the unforgivable sin?

The unforgivable sin, often called the sin against the Holy Spirit, is the deliberate and persistent rejection of God’s mercy and grace until death, rendering forgiveness impossible because the sinner refuses to repent. This sin, referenced in Matthew 12:31-32, includes despair (denying God’s mercy), presumption (assuming salvation without repentance), and obstinate resistance to the known truth of the Holy Spirit’s promptings. It’s not unforgivable because God withholds forgiveness, but because the sinner freely chooses to remain outside His mercy, making salvation impossible unless they repent before death, as God’s forgiveness is always available to the contrite.

3-7 Humility

Why is humility a necessary trait to have for salvation?

Humility is a necessary trait for salvation because it aligns the soul with God’s will, enabling one to receive His grace and recognize dependence on Him. Humility involves submitting to God’s authority and acknowledging our sinfulness, which is essential for true repentance and openness to salvation. Humility, as modeled by Christ—who humbled Himself unto death (Philippians 2:8)—counteracts pride, the root of sin, and allows us to accept God’s truth and mercy, particularly through the sacraments. Without humility, one cannot genuinely seek forgiveness or persevere in faith, as it fosters the disposition needed to love God above self and to trust in His plan, making it indispensable for entering Heaven.

3-8 Confession

What is Confession?

Confession, also known as the Sacrament of Penance, is the means instituted by Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism, restoring the soul to a state of grace. It is the act of confessing one’s sins to a priest, who, with Christ’s authority, absolves them, requiring contrition, a full disclosure of mortal sins, and a firm purpose of amendment. Christ gave this power to His apostles, saying, “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven,” making it a personal encounter with God’s mercy through the priest, who acts in persona Christi. It not only cleanses the soul but also strengthens it against future sin, reconciling the penitent with both God and the Church.

3-9 The Ten Commandments

What are the ten commandments?

The Ten Commandments are the divine laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, as recorded in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21, serving as the foundation for moral life. They are: 1) I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me; 2) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; 3) Remember thou keep holy the Lord’s day; 4) Honor thy father and thy mother; 5) Thou shalt not kill; 6) Thou shalt not commit adultery; 7) Thou shalt not steal; 8) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor; 9) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife; 10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods. These commandments, inscribed on stone tablets, reflect God’s eternal law, guiding humanity to love Him (first three) and neighbor (last seven). They are binding on all, providing the moral framework to live in accordance with God’s will, avoid sin, and attain salvation.

3-10 Theological & Cardinal Virtues

What are the Theological and Cardinal virtues?

The Theological and Cardinal virtues are essential habits that guide the soul toward God and moral excellence. The Theological virtues—Faith, Hope, and Charity—are supernatural gifts infused (with sanctifying grace at Baptism) into the soul by God to direct us to our ultimate end: Faith enables belief in God’s truths, Hope fosters trust in His promises, and Charity inspires love for God and neighbor. The Cardinal virtues—Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance—are natural virtues, perfected by grace, that govern moral actions: Prudence guides right decision-making, Justice ensures fairness, Fortitude strengthens perseverance in difficulties, and Temperance moderates desires. Both sets of virtues, cultivated through the sacraments, prayer, and good works, shape a holy life by grace, aligning us with God’s will and aiding our salvation by fostering a character pleasing to Him.

3-11 Prayer Life & Asking God

What is the role of prayer in one's life, and does God answer all prayers?

Prayer is essential in one’s life as it is the means of raising the mind and heart to God, fostering a personal relationship with Him, and obtaining the graces necessary for salvation. Prayer is necessary to express adoration, thanksgiving, atonement, and petition to God, helping us to align our will with His and grow in holiness. Prayer, whether vocal or mental, sustains spiritual life by keeping us connected to God, strengthening us against temptation, and aiding us in fulfilling our purpose to know, love, and serve Him. It’s not optional but a duty, as Christ Himself commanded us to pray always (Luke 18:1), expressing our dependence on God and grow in holiness toward eternal life. God indeed answers all prayers according to His perfect will and our eternal good, responding with a “yes” (if it will benefit us), “no” (if harmful to salvation), or “wait” (if the timing isn’t right) always prioritizing our eternal union with Him over temporal desires. Trusting in God's plan for our ultimate good, gives us the peace only He can give (John 14:27).

3-12 Our Lady

Who is Mary, and why can she help us with our petitions and salvation?

Mary is the Virgin Mother of God, chosen to bear Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, and thus uniquely holy and sinless from her conception. She is both the Mother of God and our spiritual mother, given to us by Christ on the Cross. She is the Mediatrix of all graces, meaning that, by God’s design, graces won by Christ’s redemption, flow through her intercession. When we continually ask Our Lady to pray for us (especially through the Rosary), she can help us with our petitions because her intercession amplifies our petitions, her perfect union with her Son gives her a special role as advocate and intercessor; her prayers, offered with maternal love, are uniquely powerful before God, aiding us in obtaining grace and guidance toward salvation (James 5:16). Jesus chose not to come to us directly, but through Mary, and by Mary, we are drawn closer to her Son. God’s plan of redemption honors human cooperation and reflects His humility and love.

3-13 The Rosary

What is the Rosary?

The Rosary is a powerful prayer and devotion that combines vocal and meditative prayer, focusing on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Rosary is typically prayed using beads to count the prayers, including the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, while meditating through Christ’s Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries. The Rosary honors Mary, fosters repentance, and aligns our will with God’s to deepen our faith and love for Christ. The Rosary strengthens our spiritual life and reliance on divine grace, with Mary guiding us to her Son, the source of eternal life. Our Lady urged us to pray the Rosary daily because it fosters contemplation of Christ’s life, and invokes her intercession, helping us grow in virtue, resist sin, and obtain graces. “One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world.”—St. Dominic