Faith is not something we produce by our own strength. It is a gift freely given by God, which we are invited to receive, profess, and live.
At times, belief feels strong and natural; at other moments, it feels fragile, distant, or weighed down by doubt, suffering, or spiritual fatigue.
The Church, in her wisdom, has never answered weak faith with novelty, but with profession.
One of the most powerful ways to grow in faith is not only to ask for it, but to exercise it aloud—to stand before God and declare what we believe, even when doing so is difficult.
For centuries, Catholics have prayed the Act of Faith as a way of strengthening belief, grounding the soul in revealed truth, and entrusting both mind and heart to God.
This traditional prayer is especially fitting for those who desire an increase of faith.
The Act of Faith (Traditional Long Form)
O my God,
I firmly believe that You are one God in three divine Persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I believe that Your 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 You have revealed them,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
In this faith I choose to live and die.
Amen.
(Traditional Catholic Act of Faith)
The History of the Act of Faith
The Act of Faith is not a modern composition, nor a personal meditation.
It belongs to a group of prayers known as the Acts of the Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity.
These acts took their definitive form in the life of the Church after the Council of Trent (16th century), when Catholic teaching emphasized the importance of clearly professing what the Church believes—especially in times of confusion, doubt, or doctrinal division.
For generations, Catholics were taught to memorize and pray the Act of Faith:
- during catechesis,
- before receiving Holy Communion,
- after Confession,
- and at moments of spiritual trial.
Its purpose was never emotional comfort alone, but the strengthening of faith through truth.
By praying the Act of Faith, believers do not invent belief; they receive, affirm, and exercise the faith given by God, uniting their intellect and will to divine revelation as taught by the Church.
This prayer has been whispered by the doubtful, spoken by the faithful, and relied upon by saints—especially when faith felt tested or fragile.
How This Prayer Increases Faith
This prayer strengthens faith not by emotion, but by truth.
When we pray the Act of Faith, we are doing three things at once:
- Affirming divine revelation, not personal opinion
- Submitting our intellect and will to God
- Choosing faith, even when it feels difficult
Faith grows when it is professed, not merely analyzed.
When to Pray the Act of Faith
This prayer is especially recommended:
- During times of doubt or spiritual dryness
- Before receiving Holy Communion
- After Confession
- When struggling to trust God’s will
- As part of a daily prayer routine, especially during Lent
It can be prayed slowly, thoughtfully, and repeatedly—allowing each line to settle into the heart.
A Final Reflection
Faith is not the absence of struggle.
It is the decision to trust God because He is faithful, not because everything is clear.
When words fail, let the Church’s words carry you.
When belief feels weak, let centuries of faith pray through you.
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
