Among the many questions that arise in everyday conversations about religion, there is one that comes up again and again: What is faith? It seems like a settled question, but it never hurts to return to it, especially when it comes to passing it on to our children.

The most common answer is usually: “Faith is believing.” But believing in what? In whom? Because there is also a human faith: I get on a plane believing it will take off and land without problems; I get up in the morning believing I will live that day normally. That basic trust is part of life. But the Christian faith goes much further.

1. Faith is a gift from God

The first thing we must understand is that faith is not simply a personal decision or an inherited custom: it is a gift from God, received at Baptism. It is a gift that must be nurtured with care, especially in the first years of life.

During childhood, children are naturally docile. They follow the pace of life set by their parents. Therefore, it is vital that from a young age they experience authentic faith: attending Mass with respect, learning to pray, and becoming familiar with the sacred signs. Taking a child to Mass with their stuffed bunny, iPad, or dog may seem innocent, but it ultimately distorts the meaning of participating in the mystery of faith. If a child doesn’t recognize that Mass is a special moment from the age of 4, it will be very difficult to transmit that respect to them later.

Faith, like milk for a newborn, is offered from the beginning. It doesn’t wait until the age of 10 or 15. It is cultivated by example, daily prayer, and the presence of God in the daily life of the home.

2. Faith implies intelligence and obedience

With the passage of time, faith takes on other dimensions: it is no longer enough to “believe because my parents tell me to.” The moment of assent of intelligence arrives: faith is not contrary to reason; on the contrary, reason can lead us to God. History, philosophy, common sense… everything points to a first cause, to an intelligent design, to a Creator.

Even great scientists, like Einstein and other serious thinkers, have recognized the presence of a higher order. Faith is not superstition or naivete: it is recognizing with the mind that there is Someone who gives meaning to everything.

But it is not just about understanding. Faith also requires obedience. God, who loves us infinitely, proposes a path for us: the commandments, the teachings of Christ. They are not rules to limit us, but paths to lead us to a full life. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to surpass it: from “you shall not kill” to “blessed are the peacemakers,” from “you shall not steal” to “blessed are the poor in spirit,” from “you shall not fornicate” to “blessed are the pure in heart.”

3. Faith is trust of the heart

Finally, faith is also trusted, abandonment, surrender. Even if we don’t understand God’s plans, even if we suffer or go through trials, we trust that He wants the best for us. It is not resignation, it is hope. God knows us better than we know ourselves, and His love is greater than any difficulty.

Many times, our ideal plans—perfect health, success, comfort—collide with reality. But even trials have a meaning: they purify us, strengthen us, help us grow and look beyond ourselves. Faith reminds us that God writes straight on crooked lines, and that everything—even the painful—can be an opportunity for grace.

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