Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/291



LL that  Faith  teaches  is  grounded  on  the authority of  the  word  of  God. It is  from  Christ himself that  the  Church  has  learned  whatever  she proposes to  the  faithful  as  the  object  of  their  belief. When truth  itself  is  the  guide,  one  cannot  go  astray; and there  is  nothing  more  reasonable  than  to  submit reason to  the  truth  which  is  revealed  by  God.

2. Of  what  use  is  faith  to  a Christian  if  it  be  not the rule  of  his  conduct? If it  be  the  most  consummate folly  to  doubt  of  a doctrine  which  God  has revealed, which  so  many  martyrs  have  sealed  with their blood,  and  which  the  devils  themselves  have  so often  confessed, is  it  not  downright  madness  to  believe this doctrine,  and  yet  live  as  if  it  were  supposed  to be  false? Not to  live  conformably  to  our  belief  is to  believe  as  the  damned  do.

3. Faith,  then,  shall  henceforth  be  the  sole  principle of my  actions,  and  the  only  rule  of  my  life. Whatever it condemns,  I,  also,  absolutely  condemn. In spite of  every  natural  repugnance,  I will  oppose  the maxims of  the  Gospel  to  those  of  the  world,  as  often as the  occasion  presents  itself. What does  the world say? Follow the  natural  bent  of  your inclinations: suffer  nothing,  &amp;c. But what  doth Jesus Christ  say? quite the  contrary. Who is right,  Jesus  Christ  or  the  world?

[Thank God for  being  incorporated  with  his  Church,  and  recite the  Creed  slowly,  as  a solemn  profession  of  your  faith.]

“Lord increase my  faith.”— Luke  xvii.

“What does it  avail  to  believe  like  a Catholic.,  and  yet  to  live like  a heathen? St. Peter Damian.