The Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
Traditional version from the Baltimore Catechism.
Pray the Act of Faith every day with a reminder.
Start praying with Rosary & MercyKey takeaways
- Faith is both a gift from God and a free human response (CCC 153-155).
- This prayer lists the central truths: the Trinity, the Incarnation, and Christ's return.
- It is the first of the three Acts of the theological virtues.
What is the Act of Faith?
The Act of Faith is a short prayer in which a Catholic states belief in God and in all that the Church teaches. Faith is one of the three theological virtues, along with hope and love. The traditional wording comes from the Baltimore Catechism.
When to pray it
Catholics pray it in the morning or evening, along with the Acts of Hope and Love. It is also a good prayer in times of doubt.
Questions people ask
Why believe "because Thou hast revealed them"?
Catholic faith rests on God's authority as the one who is truth itself, who cannot deceive or be deceived (CCC 156).
What are the theological virtues?
Faith, hope and charity (love). They come from God and lead to God (CCC 1812-1813).
Can doubt be a sin?
Honest questions are not sins. Willful rejection of a truth of the faith is. The Catechism distinguishes doubt that seeks answers from deliberate refusal to believe (CCC 2088).
Related prayers
Pray through what you are reading, every day, with a gentle reminder.
Start praying with Rosary & MercySources: Catechism of the Catholic Church 142-175, 1814-1816 · Hebrews 11:1 · Baltimore Catechism