πFaith
Faith is the virtue by which we firmly believe all of the Truths that God has revealed, on the word of God by revealing them. They are infallibly true because God can neither deceive nor be deceived.
↷ Faith is belief in something true, based on the word of another, even though that truth might not be fully understood.
↷ Divine Faith is belief in a Truth or mystery known only because God revealed it.
↷ It is grace that helps us to attain faith and persevere in it, to take God’s word for whatever He has revealed.
↷ Faith is supernatural because we cannot by ourselves acquire it. It is a gift of God. It is, however, increased by prayer and by acting in Faith; the Apostles asked of the Lord: “Increase our Faith!” (Luke 17:5).
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[Faith is] both a gift from God and a human act by which the believer gives personal adherence to God who invites his response, and freely assents to the whole truth that that God has revealed. It is this revelation of God which the Church proposes for our belief, and which we profess in the Creed, celebrate in the Sacraments, live by right conduct that fulfills the twofold commandment of charity (as specified in the Ten Commandments), and respond to in our prayer of faith. Faith is both a theological virtue given by God as grace, and an obligation which flows from the First Commandment of God” (CCC, Glossary, p.878-879); cf. CCC, 26,142,150,1814,2087).
Hope is the virtue by which we firmly trust that God, Who is all-powerful and all-faithful to His promises, will in His mercy give us eternal happiness and the means to obtain it.
↷ God promised to give us eternal life, and the means to obtain it. In this promise is our hope.
↷ Hope is necessary for salvation. Our hope must be firmly founded in God, Who promised to give us the means for salvation.
↷ Such firm hope, however, should not exclude reasonable fear of the loss of our soul. Very often we fall short of the proper use of the means of salvation granted us.
“[Hope is] the theological virtue by which we desire and expect from God both eternal life and the grace we need to attain it” (CCC, Glossary, p. 882; cf. 1817).
Charity is the virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbors as ourselves for the love of God.
Charity is the Queen of all virtues. It unites God and each human person perfectly in love. It also unites the human person to all other persons, for the love of God.
To love God above all things, we must be willing to renounce all created things rather than often Him by sin.
We can do this by speaking to God – asking Him for this grace by praying the traditional Act of Charity, opening our hearts to Him, and just by practicing charity toward God and others. These are the most simple and effective ways to deepen in charity.
The Holy Apostle teaches this truth, because when we get to heaven, faith and hope will cease. Since faith is belief and trust in the unseen, faith will no longer be necessary, because in heaven we will see and possess God! Hope ends, because by being in heaven we can no longer desire what we already possess. But for all eternity we shall have charity: we can love God forever!
How do I go about gaining the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity?
Gaining the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity are simple! We gain Faith, Hope, and Charity by asking God for these gifs. This can be done by making the traditional Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity in Prayer (see below). The other way we gain these virtues is by practicing them in our daily life as we go about our duties and obligations. Faith, Hope, and Charity are gained by asking God for them and by practicing them in daily life.
TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC PRAYERS EXPRESSING FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY
ACT OF FAITH
O MY GOD! I firmly believe that You are One God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that Your Divine Son became Man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the Truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because You have revealed them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen. (partial indulgence)
ACT OF HOPE
O MY GOD! Relying on Your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain the pardon of my sins, the help of Your Grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, My Lord and Redeemer. Amen. (partial indulgence)
ACT OF CHARITY
O MY GOD! I love You above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because You are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen. (partial indulgence)
Note: Reference I Corinthians 13:13. The Theological Virtues are called such because they are supernatural in origin, relate immediately to God, and can only be gained through His grace.
