Acts of faith, hope, and love are based upon the theological virtues because they are the virtues of God. These three traditional Catholic prayers allow us to draw closer to God, and they have their foundation in God. St. Paul says in the 1st Book of Corinthians (1 Cor 13:13) love is the greatest of the three. Love, like God, is eternal and lasts forever.
Act of Faith
And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5
The Act of Faith is a traditional Catholic prayer and an important prayer of the Catholic Church. In the Act of Faith prayer, we profess the light of the Gospel. We believe in the One Holy Triune God, we believe in the Holy Catholic Church, and we believe the apostolic teachings of the Catholic Church throughout the centuries to be true.
“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, 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.”
The Act of Faith prayer finds its roots in the ancient Apostles Creed. It is a prayer that should be devoutly recited by Catholics, both priests and families.
Christ protects His servants faith and gives strength to believers in proportion to the trust that each man who receives that strength is willing to place in Him. + St. Cyprian
Act of Hope
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Act of Hope is a traditional prayer of the Catholic Church, and like Act of Faith and Act of Love, it is one of the most important prayers of the Church. It is a prayer that people both young and old should pray, for the virtue of hope is needed throughout life.
“O my God, relying on Your almighty power, infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of Your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.”
The Act of Hope prayer directs our focus on God to be our hope. We hope in His mercy to help get us through life’s battles and storms, and we hope for eternal life with Him.
By the sacrifice of His own body Christ both put an end to the law that stood against us and made a new beginning of life for us by giving us the hope of resurrection. + St. Athanasius
Act of Love
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:36-40
The Act of Love is a prayer of the Gospel. We pray to God that we love Him above all things, and we love our neighbor as ourself. Like the Lord’s Prayer, it also calls for forgiveness, both for our sins, and we forgive the sins of our neighbor.
“O my God, I love You above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because You are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all who I have injured.”
The Act of Love can be considered a prayer of the Gospel because Jesus teaches us in St. Matthew’s Gospel that to love God and our neighbor is, “the law and the prophets.”
Loving God renews His image in us. + St. Columban