A Strong Faith Life

A professor at a Catholic University gives the readers of the Catholic Times a story of life in an African village where there is a river not very deep but with a strong current.  

When people cross this river, they each carry a heavy stone each to avoid being swept away by the rough current.

Faith is, in short, a grateful stone. Faith can be heavy and burdensome like a stone, yet in moments of crisis, it becomes a life-giving, precious stone. 

In life we encounter rough currents, unexpected trials and suffering, moments of frustration and despair. In these times, the grateful stone called faith acts like an anchor, holding us firmly so we are not swept away by the torrent. Especially in the final moment of death, at the most significant moments of pain and crisis, it allows us to face death with peace. Faith is a grateful stone in life and in the face of death, and a precious gift from God to humanity.

During the baptism ceremony, the officiating priest asks the candidates for baptism, 'What do you ask of the Church?' At this, the candidates respond, 'We ask for faith.' They are not asking for money or wealth, not power or honor, but they say, 'We ask for faith.' As human beings with bodies and souls, they are asking for the best, the most precious, and the most valuable thing.

Then the officiating priest asks, 'What does faith give you?' The candidates respond, 'It gives eternal life.' Neither wealth nor riches can give eternal life. Neither power nor honor can give eternal life. Only faith grants humans eternal life. Faith alone gives humans eternal life and guides them to truth and happiness. Therefore, nothing is better than faith. Through faith, humans are saved. Without faith, humans cannot be saved. The word 'faith' is one of the most commonly used words we have.

 We have heard it so many times that we might think we already know its full meaning. But is that really so? How much do we really know about this faith? The word 'faith' is the first thing we are asked about when we enter the church, it is an absolute element of salvation, and it grants eternal life. 

Therefore, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could deeply and accurately understand what the Catholic Church means by 'what is faith?' so that it could serve as a stepping stone for joyful and proper faith life? To help ordinary Catholic believers live happily while alive and die peacefully with a smile.