Pope at Audience: Faith is first gift of Christian life
By Christopher Wells
Without the three theological virtues, âwe would not have eyes that see even in the dark, we would not have a heart that loves even when it is not loved, we would not have a hope that dares against all hope,â Pope Francis said at the General Audience on Wednesday.
After considering the four cardinal virtues, the Holy Father has now turned to the theological virtues, focusing this week on faith, âthe act by which the human being freely commits himself to God.â
Examples of faith
, the Holy Father held up the example of Abraham, who left his home for a new land at Godâs command and was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac due to his trust in God.
Moses, too, was a man of faith, continuing âto stand firm and trust in the Lord, and even defend the people who were so often lacking in faith.â
Pope Francis then pointed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who responded to the Angelâs annunciation with the humble reply, âBehold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.â âWith her heart full of trust in God,â the Pope said, Mary set out on her path without knowing either the route or the dangers.
It is faith that âmakes the Christian,â the Pope said, because âto be Christians is not first and foremost about accepting a culture,â but about a relationship with God.
The first gift of the Christian life
Recalling the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee, the Pope highlighted the disciples' fear, saying it is fear, not reason or intelligence, that is the enemy of faith.
This, he said, is why faith is âthe first gift to welcome in Christian life,â the gift parents ask for the children at Baptism.â They realize that they have received a gift which they want for their children, knowing that âeven in the trials of life, their child will not drown in fear.â
âLord, increase our faithâ
Finally, Pope Francis recognized that not everyone has faith and that even Christians can find their faith in short supply. But faith, the Pope said, âis the happiest gift, the only virtue we are permitted to envy,â precisely because it ââtriggersâ grace in us and opens the mind to the mystery of God.â
âTherefore,â the Pope concluded, âlet us, too, like the disciples, repeat to Him, âLord, increase our faith!ââ
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