THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

Man's Capacity for God

How can we, finite creatures, really say anything meaningful about an infinite God, or even know whether there really is one? (added 09.28.03)

Admittedly, anything we say about God will fail to live up to the full truth about him. He is in every way transcendant and beyond our comprehension. However, he has endowed us with the necessary attributes to acknowledge him. By critically inquiring into the nature of the universe, including our own existence, and listening to our consciences, we can know with certainty that a Supreme Being exists. In fact, if we don't, our lives are meaningless, for we're naturally religious and made to live them with and in God.

"When I am completely united to you, there will be no more sorrow or trials; entirely full of you, my life will be complete." - St. Augustine

"If anyone says that the one, true God, our creator and lord, cannot be known with certainty from the things that have been made, by the natural light of human reason: let him be anathema." - Vatican I, canon 2, 1

"Without the Creator, the creature vanishes." - Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 36

27-43; In Brief 44-49

I Believe in God the Father

"I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"

I Believe in God

What is the nature of God? (added 09.29.03)

Were it not for his having revealed himself to us, this question would be utterly unanswerable. However, because he has revealed himself to us, we can speak of his nature, but even in so doing there remains an inexhaustible mystery, which surpasses all of our words, however noble and vaunted they may be. The essential qualities of God's nature as contained in divine revelation are: Unity, Being, Truth, and Love. God is first of all one, as the very word "God" implies. Moreover, his existence is absolute and unqualified. He is the beginning and end of all existence, including our own. There is nothing better than him nor can we substitute anything else for him in our lives. He has also shown himself to be absolute Truth and Love. All truth and love, wherever they may be found and in whatever degree, ultimately come from God.

"The supreme being must be unique, without equal. ...If God is not one, he is not God." - Tertullian

"If you understood him, it would not be God." - St. Augustine

"'Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!'" - Deut 6:4

"'The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity...'" - Ex 34:6

199-227; In Brief 228-231