I believe

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 I believe - we say those words at each Mass, at the beginning of every rosary. In fact, we say that phrase frequently in everyday life: "I believe in you", "I believe in this cause", etc. But when we say "I believe" at the start of the Apostles' Creed what do we mean?

It's not enough to simply believe that God exists, that Jesus Christ, His Son, died for us, that He established the Catholic Church. 

We might superficially know this to be true, but not really believe. 

This is where the theological virtues come in. Faith is believing in God and everything He promised and commanded, hope is acting on that belief in our lives, and charity is what makes it pleasing in God's sight.  

When we say "I believe" we need to renew with our whole hearts, our faith, hope and charity. We need to believe with everything. Faith is nothing without hope, hope is nothing without charity. 



It's easy to believe 2+2=4, we know that by logic, it's an act of the intellect, not the will. 

But to say that we believe 1+1+1=3, Three Persons in one God, that's an act of the will. We have to choose to believe it. we can't come to the Trinity by the intellect. 

Belief isn't something you're born with, it's a choice. 

As St Thomas said when he was asked how to become a saint, "Will it!"

God bless!


 

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