Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: Definition and Prayers
The Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, which are Catholic prayers directly linked to the three theological virtues: faith,hope, and charity. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 155, defines the act of faith as follows: “The act of faith is a human act, that is, an act of the intellect of a person - prompted by the will moved by God - who freely assents to divine truth.” The act of faith is complemented by two other acts that are fundamental to the Christian life: the act of hope and the act of charity.The act of hope is the human act by which we place our trust in eternal life, God’s mercy, and His promises.The act of charity is an act by which we affirm our love for God and for our neighbor.
Reciting these prayers regularly (as the Church advises) is a way to concretely entrust ourselves to divine Providence.
Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity: Definition
Faith is a grace received from God through the Holy Spirit, but it is also a human act, for God expects our full cooperation in believing in the revealed mysteries.The act of faith is thus a free and conscious response by human beings to God who reveals Himself. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 154: “Believing is possible only by grace and the interior helps of the Holy Spirit. But it is no less true that believing is an authentically human act.” It therefore presupposes the cooperation of human freedom and divine grace: God draws the heart, but man freely chooses to respond.
In his Summa Theologica (IIa-IIae, q. 2, a. 9), St. Thomas Aquinas describes the act of faith as an act of human intellect which, under the impulse of the will moved by God, freely assents to divine truth. Thus, the act of faith is not an irrational surrender, but an assent to a truth that reason alone cannot fully grasp, yet which it recognizes as credible thanks to the signs of Revelation (miracles, the living Word, the holiness of witnesses, etc.).
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 are eternal truth and wisdom,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
In this faith I intend to live and die.
Amen.” (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Act of Hope
“O Lord God,
I hope by your grace for the pardon
of all my sins
and after life here to gain eternal happiness
because you have promised it
who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind,
and merciful.
In this hope I intend to live and die.
Amen.” (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Act of Charity
“O Lord God, I love you above all things
and I love my neighbor for your sake
because you are the highest, infinite and perfect
good, worthy of all my love.
In this love I intend to live and die.
Amen.” (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Practice faith, hope, and charity with Hozana
With Hozana, let us pray to practice faith, hope, and charity—these theological virtues that unite us to God and open us to our neighbor.
Hozana invites you to join many communities to nourish your spiritual life: , a , or a .”
