I was asked today in the website “Fr Stefan I have meet you a couple of times? You also seems like a person of faith. How can I grow in Faith?’
This is a big question. First of all I am touched that someone sees me as a person of faith. Blessed Pope Paul VI said ‘The world no longer listen to teachers. If they do it is because they first believe that they are witnesses.” When you listen to a homily you can often sense if the priest deacon actually believes what they are saying.
There is a old saying ‘Faith is more caught than taught.’ Renewal in the church will not come from new procedures, structures. Renewal as always come from the saints.’ In the saints we see embodied our faith, what we believe. Faith is deeply personal. Bishop Chaput at the talk on the Eucharist in my diocese that ‘Catechesis is not the answer. But living what we believe.’
When I learn about the murder of Bishop O Connell. A man I knew nothing about. But when I reading about his life. I was so inspired by his “I walk the walk not just talk the talk.’ Just reading about him made me want to be a more saintly priest.
So how do we grow in faith. Mother Angelica said ‘Faith is spelled ‘R I S K’ She also said ‘if you not willing to do the ridiculous God will not do the miraculous.’ When we pray the Rosary especially the first 3 Hail Mary’s. We ask for an increase in Faith Hope and Charity. So imagine the number of times you have asked for this increase in Faith Hope and Charity. It is safe to think that many of you have said this intention thousands of times, When I was a junior in college I said to Mother Mary ‘I would pray a rosary every day of my life. That was over 32 years ago.
Just curious. Will ask my phone. What is the number? That means I have prayed at least 11,632 rosaries in my life. At least. So the short answer is not that we pray to increase in Faith Hope and Charity. We have to exercise our Faith. St John of Cross said ‘That we will receive all that we hope for.’
What does that mean that when we hope for something. This is not wishing but the theological virtue of Hope we receive that which we hope for.’Blaise Pascal wrote that ‘Faith is a lot like riding a bicycle.’ You don’t learn to ride a bicycle by reading book about how to ride a bicycle. You have to actually get on a bicycle and ride it. Pope Benedict wrote in this book ‘Introduction to Christianity.’ That faith is like an experiment. Faith is not something that you study from the outside. You. are part of the experiment. You learn about growing in faith from exercising your faith, taking risks. When you sense an inspiration of the Holy Spirit you follow that inspiration. In short you have to like Peter get out of the boat and walk on water. You will not walk on water is you cling to the security of the boat. Yes you might sink. Peter did, so you are in good company. But Peter did walk on water, and so can you.
Peter grew in faith. God works with us by degrees. He will not ask for the biggest risks first. Jesus takes you by the hand and gently guide you. First to take some risks of faith, then larger one. But in time we learn with what the saints call ‘The science of our faith.’ You learn by experience. You learn to trust.
Faith as two meanings. Intellectual faith. I believe all that the Catholic Churches teaches to be revealed by God. And Charismatic Faith.. the faith of the mustard seed. The two types of faith flow from each other. The more we believe about God the more we can trust for miracles. When we know that God is a Father who is Good and Love, We can trust Him to guide us. And when we ask us to act in faith we trust that He will be faithful to what He asks us to do.
Faith is an adventure. Jesus ask those He healed ‘Do you have faith to do this.’ And Jesus would say ‘Let it be done according to your faith.’ Meaning that we receive as much as we ask for in faith. If our faith is week we receive little. If our faith is great we receive much.
Yes faith is a gift. But is also true that we by our free will can choose to grow in faith. Remember one man buried his talent in the ground. So in a very mysterious way. The Holy Spirit will give us as much faith as we desire. If only we ask and receive, and maybe more importantly put into action what we believe God is asking us to do in Faith.
Thank you, Father, for this passage on how to grow in faith. I have been following your blog for quite a while & since I remember you from your time at St. Timothy”s Parish & was inspired by many of your homilies, I so appreciate your thoughtful blogs & continuation of hearing from you. Your new website is “awesome”. I am moved to comment on this particular blog of yours because when I finished reading it, a prayer was heard and a prayer was answered. Thank you, Father … it is so nice to stay in touch, refreshed, renewed & revived!
God bless you in all you do …
Marianne Eiden
Supply, NC