Faith is a divine light that guides us to Heaven, shields us from the snares of the devil, and sustains us in virtue. As St. Alphonsus teaches in The School of Christian Perfection, it is the foundation of our hope, the shield of our salvation, and the strength of our perseverance. Let us thank God daily for the priceless gift of belonging to the one true Faith.
Faith is a Divine Light
Faith is a divinely infused virtue by which man believes, on God’s authority, what God has revealed and teaches through His Holy Church. St. Paul calls faith “the substance of things to be hoped for, and the evidence of things that appear not.” (Heb. 11:1). Faith is indeed “the substance of things to be hoped for,” that is to say, the foundation of our hope, for without faith, hope could not exist. Faith is likewise an evidence of the unseen, “the evidence of things that appear not.”
Our holy faith is a treasure of unspeakable value, for in it we possess first of all a divine light which serves to guide us safely on the way to Heaven. That which we perceive with our senses or comprehend with our reason may and often does lead us astray. The truths of faith, on the contrary, are revealed by God, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In the second place, faith furnishes us with an excellent means of showing our reverence and respect for God.
Our Shield and Protection
Faith is, moreover, a shield of protection against the enemies of our salvation. St. John says: “This is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.” (1 John 5:4). God has created us simply to labor at our souls’ salvation and to become holy. “This is the will of God, your sanctification,” says the Apostle. (1 Thess. 4:3). To this end all our efforts must be directed, and faith puts us in a position to overcome all the obstacles which the world opposes to the realization of our object, obstacles such as human respect, the inordinate desires of the flesh, in a word, all the temptations of Hell. The devil is very powerful, no doubt, and his temptations are calculated to inspire us with fear and dread. But the man of faith triumphs over all his attacks. “The devil,” says St. Peter (1 Peter 5:8–9), “as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist ye, strong in faith.” St. Paul writes in a similar strain: “In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.” (Eph. 6:16). As a shield protects the body from the arrows of an enemy, so faith defends the soul against the assaults of Hell.
“My just man liveth by faith,” says Holy Scripture (Heb. 10:38); that is to say, by means of faith, he sustains himself in the life of grace. When faith grows weak, virtue is in danger; when faith is lost, virtue departs with it. Accordingly, when we are assailed by a temptation to pride or sensuality or any other vice, for self-defense we must instantly arm ourselves with the principles of holy faith. We must direct the eye of our soul to the presence of God or reflect on the sad consequences that follow in the wake of sin, or again on the account we shall have to render on judgment day, and the punishment that awaits the sinner in eternity. Above all we must recall to mind that teaching of holy faith which says that whoever has recourse to God in temptation will be victorious. “I will call upon the Lord,” says David, “and I shall be saved from my enemies.” (Ps. 17:4).
In fine, faith preserves our peace of heart amid the trials and tribulations that beset us, for in all the crosses of life, faith gives us the assurance that patience and resignation will merit eternal joy. St. Peter the Apostle has said: “If you believe, you shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8–9).
Let us therefore thank God from the bottom of our hearts for having bestowed upon us the inestimable gift of faith. St. Francis de Sales once said: “O God, exceeding great and numerous are the benefits which Thou hast given me! But how shall I ever be able to thank Thee for having bestowed on me the light of holy faith?” And again: “The dignity of our holy faith is so great that I would gladly lay down my life for it.” St. Teresa found such consolation in the thought that she belonged to the Holy Catholic Church that at the hour of her death she continued to exclaim: “I am a child of Holy Church, a child of Holy Church.” Let us thank God unceasingly for this wonderful grace and be ever mindful of the words of the Psalmist: “He hath not done in like manner to every nation.” (Ps. 147:20).
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This article is taken from a chapter in The School of Christian Perfection by Saint Alphonsus Liguori which is available from TAN Books.
