159. Who is the model and who the most perfect embodiment of the obedience of Faith? (CCC 144) Abraham is the model of the obedience of Faith, while Our Lady is its most perfect embodiment.

160. Where does the word “to obey” come from? (CCC 144) The word “to obey” comes from the Latin ob-audíre .
Audíre means “to hear”, “to listen to”.

161. Where does the Letter to the Hebrews praise the Faith of Israel’s ancestors? (CCC 145) The Letter to the Hebrews praises the Faith of Israel’s ancestors in Hebr 11.

162. How is Faith defined in Hebr 11:1? (CCC 146) Faith is defined in Hebr 11:1 as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.

163. Who is the father of all believers? (CCC 146) Abraham is the father of all believers.

164. Why is Our Lady called blessed by all generations? (CCC 148) Our Lady is called blessed by all generations because of the Faith that she showed to the angel who announced to her the birth of the Messiah.

165. What two essentials of Faith does the phrase “I know whom I have believed” state? (CCC 150) The phrase “I know whom I have believed” states the two essentials of Faith:
1. an assent to God’s truth involving knowledge
2. a personal adherence to God involving belief.

166. Why does Faith in God Father require Faith in Jesus Christ? (CCC 151) Faith in God Father requires Faith in Jesus Christ, because He Himself is God.

167. Why does Faith in God Father and Jesus Christ require Faith in the Holy Spirit? (CCC 152) Faith in God Father and Jesus Christ requires Faith in the Holy Spirit, because He Himself is God.

168. How are the seven characteristics of Faith connected? (CCC 153-165) The seven characteristics of Faith are connected in this way: Faith is God’s gift and thus (1) a grace. Grace works upon (2) a human act. This act is an act of (3) knowledge and must be (4) free. Yet Faith is (5) necessary for salvation. Thus man must (6) persevere in it for it anticipates (7) eternal life.

169. What must God’s grace do in man so that he can exercise Faith? (CCC 153) God’s grace must move and assist man so that he can exercise Faith.

170. In what way is believing an act of the human intellect? (CCC 155) Believing is an act of the human intellect inasmuch as the human intellect assents to the divine truth.
This assent is given by command of the will which is moved by God through grace.

171. Which external proofs make us understand that Faith is in accordance with reason? (CCC 156) The external proofs that make us understand that Faith is in accordance with reason are:
1. the miracles of Christ and His saints
2. the prophecies contained in the Old and New Testament
3. the Church’s growth, holiness, fruitfulness and stability.
These external proofs are also called motives of credibility (in Latin: motíva credibilitátis).

172. What are motives of credibility? (CCC 156) Motives of credibility are external proofs and most certain signs of divine Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all, which show that the assent of Faith is by no means a blind impulse of the mind.

173. Why is Faith more certain than all human knowledge? (CCC 157) Faith is more certain than all human knowledge, because it is founded on the very Word of God who cannot lie.
The certainty that the divine light gives is greater than that which the light of natural reason gives.

174. Why does Faith seek understanding, according to St Anselm? (CCC 158) According to St Anselm († around 1100), Faith seeks understanding, because it is natural for a believer to desire to know better and more the One in whom he believes.

175. How does St Augustine relate Faith to understanding? (CCC 158) St Augustine († 430) relates Faith to understanding by saying: “I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe.”

176. Why can there not be any real discrepancy between Faith and reason? (CCC 159) There cannot be any real discrepancy between Faith and reason, because truth can never contradict truth.
Thus, Faith and true science cannot contradict each other.

177. Why must the act of Faith be a free act? (CCC 160) The act of Faith must be a free act, because without freedom it would not be a human act.
A “human act” (actus humánus) is an act freely chosen in consequence of a judgment of conscience.

178. Can anybody obtain eternal life without Faith? (CCC 161) No, without Faith nobody can obtain eternal life.
Mk 16:16: “He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

179. What must we do to live, grow and persevere in Faith to the end? (CCC 162) To live, grow and persevere in Faith to the end, we must:
1. nourish it with the Word of God
2. beg the Lord to increase it
3. work through Faith, hope and charity.
The Word of God is contained in sacred Scripture and in sacred Tradition.

180. Why is Faith the beginning of eternal life? (CCC 163) Faith is the beginning of eternal life, because in it we have a foretaste of the light of the beatific vision when we shall see God face to face as He is.

181. Who is “the pioneer and perfecter of our Faith”? According to what sacred text? (CCC 165) Jesus Christ is “the pioneer and perfecter of our Faith” according to Hebr 12.