Choose a topic from Part 2B:

3. The External Act of Faith

1. The external declaration, in words or deeds, of what webelieve, is a true act of faith. Though faith itself is in thesoul, and its act is primarily internal, it can be outwardlyexpressed without losing its essential character. Hence, ifinternal thought and assent make an act of faith, the externalexpression of that thought and assent makes an act of faith.

2. A man is obliged to declare his faith outwardly (thatis, he isobliged to make an external act of faith) wheneverthe honor of God or his neighbor's good requires that he shoulddo so.

"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise. "
Thomas á Kempis

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"Obedience is the true holocaust which we sacrifice to God on the altar of our hearts."
St Philip Neri

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