Treatise I: On the Virtue of Faith

Usefulness. The treatise on Faith, which is the solemn beginning of dogmatic theology, also vindicates for itself no slight moment in moral theology.

For the virtue without which it is impossible to please God ¹ founds the whole Christian life; and while we are instructed concerning its excellence and merit, we have matter from which to arouse or foster spiritual fervor; while it discerns the varied necessity by which revealed things are to be explicitly believed or professed, it supplies us with norms useful in administering the sacraments, especially baptism. Nor are difficult cases lacking to be examined and solved concerning the positive duties of faith. Today also, in so great a disturbance of errors, it is of very great importance that we know how rightly to weigh the guilt of heresy and infidelity, and accurately discern what, in their intercourse with those who err, can be permitted to Catholics and what must be prohibited.

Order of speaking. - After the notion and excellence of Faith have been set forth, we shall treat, in distinct titles, of the duty of believing; of the duty of professing Faith; of infidelity and of sins opposed to Faith; finally of the legal safeguards of Faith.

¹ Heb. 11, 6.