Act of Faith # 4

O my God!
I firmly believe that Thou art one only God,
the Creator and Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth,
infinitely great and infinitely good:
I firmly believe that in Thee,
one only God,
there are three Divine Persons,
really distinct and equal in all things,
the Father,
and the Son,
and the Holy Ghost:
I firmly believe that God the Son,
the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity,
became Man;
that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
and was born of the Virgin Mary;
that He suffered and died on a cross
to redeem and save us;
that He arose the third day from the dead;
that He ascended into Heaven;
that He will come at the end
of the world to judge mankind:
that He will reward the good
with eternal happiness,
and condemn the wicked
to the everlasting pains of hell.
I believe these,
and all other articles
which the Holy Catholic Church
proposes to our belief,
because Thou, my God,
the infallible Truth,
hast revealed them;
and Thou hast commanded us
“to hear the Church”,
which is “the Pillar and Ground of Truth.”
In this Faith I am firmly resolved,
by Thy holy grace,
to live and die.

Amen.

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History of Act of Faith # 4

The Act of Faith #4 is a Catholic prayer that expresses belief in the sacraments, which are the visible signs of God’s grace and love for His people. It is a way for Catholics to affirm their faith in the power of the sacraments to transform our lives and to seek God’s guidance and protection through them.

The prayer is one of four Acts of Faith, also known as the Four Articles of Faith, that were formulated by the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century. The Council of Trent was a response to the Protestant Reformation and was held to address various issues related to faith and doctrine in the Catholic Church.

The Acts of Faith were formulated as a way to clarify and reinforce Catholic teachings on faith, and were widely taught during the Counter-Reformation.

The Act of Faith #4 specifically affirms belief in the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, which are Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The prayer acknowledges the transformative power of the sacraments in our lives, and our reliance on them as powerful means of spiritual healing and growth.

Today, the Act of Faith #4 remains an important prayer in the Catholic Church, offering comfort and reassurance to those who seek to deepen their spiritual connection with the sacraments. It is often included in Catholic prayer books and is recited daily by Catholics around the world as a way to affirm their faith in God’s grace and love as manifested through the sacraments.