What is faith?

The Pope answers: it is the act by which the human being freely gives himself to God.

Faith, along with charity and hope, is the third "theological" virtue. But why are these virtues theological? "Because We can only live them thanks to the gift of God," the Holy Father explained this Wednesday in front of thousands of pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican.

This May 1st, Francis reflects on the theological virtues, recalling that they are the great gifts that God gives to our moral capacity: “Without them, we might be prudent, just, strong, and temperate, but we would not have eyes that see even in the darkness, 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.”

"He Catechism of the Catholic Church He explains to us that faith is the act by which the human being freely surrenders to God," said the Holy Father this morning.

In fact, for Francis, "faith is the virtue that makes a Christian": "Because being a Christian is not primarily about accepting a culture, with the values that accompany it, but being a Christian is about embracing and safeguarding a bond: a bond with God and myself, with myself and the loving face of Jesus. This bond is what makes us Christians."

The great enemy of faith

"It is not intelligence, it is not reason, as some unfortunately continue to obsessively repeat, but the great enemy of faith is fear." Pope Francis recalls that this is why "faith is the first gift to be welcomed in Christian life": "a gift that we must welcome and ask for every day, so that it may be renewed within us."

Although faith is a small gift, “it is the essential one”

And for a Christian father, aware of the grace he has been granted, "this is the gift he must also ask for his child: faith," the Pope says. "With it, a father knows that, even in the midst of life's trials, his child will not drown in fear. He also knows that, even when he no longer has a father on this earth, he will still have God the Father in heaven, who will never abandon him."

The Pope's advice: Ask the Lord to increase our faith

“As the Apostle says, faith is not for everyone,” the Pope affirms, recalling that even we, who are believers, “often find that we have only a small reserve.” Therefore, today Pope Francis encouraged all the pilgrims present and those connected by radio and television to recite “a beautiful prayer”: “Lord, increase our faith.” Thank you, Lord.