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Faith of the Mind is a Conviction

Faith means accepting something as true or real without having any proof for it or any experience of it. Father Chaminade says: faith is a firm conviction of things we do not see, as if we saw them. Faith puts in our mind new knowledge through belief that goes deeper than our questions and doesn’t demand evidence. We take something into our mind as true without laying down conditions for accepting it.

Some of the most important realities of life cannot be known except by faith. Father Chaminade uses this image: Faith is a kind of spiritual telescope, which enables us to perceive things beyond the reach of our reason. Faith does not negate reason, nor does it disregard the great gift that reason is for each of us. While fully respecting reason, faith puts us in touch with realities that are beyond the reach of reason alone.

The person who does not believe simply misses the experience of a whole realm which surpasses reason. . . .

Faith of the Heart is a Relationship

While faith of the mind is important, it is not sufficient. Father Chaminade insisted that what we believe with our mind must pass to the heart. By faith of the heart we give assent not only of our mind, but we adhere with our whole heart to what we believe. We love what we believe, and we commit ourselves to embrace it with our whole being. Faith of the mind brings us knowledge; faith of the heart attaches our person to what we believe. Father Chaminade considered faith of the mind insufficient, because we are called to change our life through the virtues and become zealous missionaries. Faith of the mind alone does not sanctify us. St. Paul says: “One believes with the heart and so is justified” (Rm 10:10). . . .

A pole-vaulter surprised everyone when he set a new record which went beyond his recognized talents. Someone asked him how he did it. He answered: “I just threw my heart over the bar and the rest of me followed.” Faith of the heart is something like that: it takes us into new realms of life, which we otherwise would not experience. It sets us on fire and becomes an inner movement to action.

Themes for Prayer and Meditation

Reflect on the faith of the heart of these heroes of the Old Testament. Observe what they believed and what “sentiments” of faith or practice of what virtues attached them totally to God.

+ “Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive, because she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful to it” (Heb 11:11).

+ “[Moses] left Egypt and was not afraid of the king’s anger; he held to his promise like a man who could see the Invisible” (Heb 11:27).

Questions for Personal Review or Group Sharing

1. Recall a moment when your faith enabled you to perceive things beyond the reach of reason and gave you a “telescopic perspective” different from that of human wisdom.
2. Describe an experience in which your faith gave you a new sense of God’s loving presence in your life.

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