CHAPTER I: ON FAITH

248. • Faith in general is assent on account of the authority of one speaking. More closely to our matter, Faith, insofar as it is a virtue, is defined: a supernatural, infused habit, inclining the intellect to assenting firmly to truths revealed by God and proposed by the Church, on account of the authority of God revealing. But insofar as it is an act, it is called a most firm assent given to things revealed by God on account of the authority of God revealing.²

Faith is 1° habitual or actual, according as it is a habit or an act.

2° Explicit or implicit by reason of the object, according as this in itself is expressed and unfolded, or is contained only in another thing. Thus, for example, if you say: I believe in the Most Holy Trinity, you elicit an act of Faith explicit in that mystery. But if you say: I believe all things which the Church teaches are to be believed, you elicit an act of Faith implicit in the individual revealed dogmas.

3° Explicit (formal) or implicit (virtual) by reason of the act, according as it is actually elicited, or by its force flows into actions.

4° Formed or living, or unformed or dead, according as it is joined, or not joined, with sanctifying grace.

The sins opposed to Faith are 1° infidelity, or lack of Faith in men not baptized; 2° heresy, or error in one baptized against a truth of Faith proposed by the Church. - Each is either formal or material, according as the baptized person adheres pertinaciously or not to an error against the Faith, or the non-baptized person is vincibly or invincibly ignorant of the Faith.

The discussion must chiefly concern 1° the necessity, 2° the object of Faith.