Act of Faith
Also known as: Actus fidei
English Text
O my God, I firmly believe that thou art one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that thy 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 thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
Translation tradition: Traditional English
Latin Text
Domine Deus,
firma fide credo et confiteor
omnia et singula quae sancta Ecclesia Catholica
proponit, quia tu, Deus,
omnibus revelasti, qui nec falli nec fallere potes. Amen.
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1; Romans 10:10
When to pray: Part of morning prayer; examination of conscience; catechetical instruction.
History & Background
The three theological virtues — faith, hope, and charity — are so called because they have God as their immediate object. Formal acts of these virtues developed as a catechetical practice from the medieval period and were systematized after the Council of Trent (1545–1563). The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines faith as "the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us" (§ 1814). The Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity appear together in the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2005), Appendix A, as part of the common prayers the faithful are encouraged to memorize. They were traditionally taught in catechism classes alongside the Our Father and Hail Mary.
Related Prayers
Source
https://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html verbatim