Hi Again -

Hey - I've been working on a project that involves finding a lot of quotes about faith.  Since there are so many cool ones, I thought I'd share them with you from time to time.  They range from biblical authors to modern day Christians.  See what you think:

Faith is the proof of what cannot be seen.  What is seen gives knowledge, not faith.  (Gregory the Great - 6th Century)

We should submit our reason to the truths of faith with the humility and simplicity of a child. (Alphonsus Liguori - 18th Century)

For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (Apostle Peter - First Century)

It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.  (Fidelis of Sigmaringen - 17th Century)

We are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety, or through actions done in holiness of heart, but through faith, for it is through faith that Almighty God has justified all men. (Clement of Rome - First Century)

Faith comes from the disposion of the soul, but dialectic comes from the skill of those who construct it.  Therefore for those in whom the action of faith is present, the demonstration through arguments is unnecessary, or even useless. What we perceive through faith you attempt to establish by arguments, and often you cannot even express that which we see, so it is clear that insight through faith is better and more secure than your intellectual conclusions. (Anthony of Egypt - 4th Century) 

Gladly endure whatever goes against you and do not let good fortune lift you up.  For these things destroy faith.  (Clare of Assisi - 13th Century)

When a man really gives up trying to make something out of himself - a saint, or a converted sinner, or a churchman, a righteous or unrighteous man...when in the fullness of tasks, questions, success or ill-hap, experiences and perplexities, a man throws himself into the arms of God...then he wakes with Christ in Gethsemane.  That is faith, and it is thus that he becomes a man and a Christian.  (Dietrich Bonhoeffer - 20th Century)

So what do you think?  I like them all.  I especially like the one from Clare.  She was a friend of St. Francis.  I think that really speaks to modern day Americans.  Sometimes we don't want to endure hardship.  On the other hand, when things are going well, we often think we don't really need God.

My other favorite is the last one.  In the end, if we want to be truly holy, the only thing we can do is throw ourselves upon Christ.  There is no other answer.

Which of these speaks to you?  Post a comment.  I promise to answer!!

Lisa