GROW IN FAITH: YOUTH – Faith Is a Choice

From Inherited Catholicism to Personal Conviction

Opening Prayer

Lord,
You call each person by name.
You do not force belief,
but invite it.
Help me understand the faith I have received.
Give me clarity of mind
and steadiness of will
to choose what is true.
Amen.

Part One

What the Church Means by Faith

The Church teaches that faith is both:

A gift from God,

And a free human response.

Faith begins with grace.
God reveals Himself.
He speaks through Scripture.
He acts in history.
He gives the Church.

But faith also requires a response.

Faith is not simply:

Being baptised as a child.
Belonging to a Catholic family.
Attending Mass because others expect it.
Identifying as Catholic on a form.

Faith is an act of the intellect.

It means assenting to what God has revealed
because He is truthful.

Faith is also an act of the will.

It means choosing to trust and follow God
even when complete understanding is not possible.

No one can believe for you.

Parents cannot.
Teachers cannot.
Priests cannot.

At some point, Catholic faith must become personal conviction.

Pause and Reflect

Have I ever thought seriously about what I actually believe?

Do I know what the Church teaches, or only what I have heard about it?

If someone asked me why I am Catholic, could I answer?

Part Two

Why This Is Reasonable

The claims of the Catholic faith are not small claims.

Either:

God exists, or He does not.

Christ rose from the dead, or He did not.

The Eucharist is truly Christ, or it is not.

The Church teaches truth, or she does not.

These are not matters of preference.

They are claims about reality.

In every other area of life, we accept that truth matters.

If a bridge is unsafe, it is unsafe for everyone.
If a medicine works, it works regardless of opinion.
If a statement is false, it does not become true because it is popular.

Truth does not change with mood.

If the Church teaches that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist,
that claim is either true or false.

If she teaches that certain moral actions are objectively wrong,
that claim is either true or false.

It is reasonable to examine such claims.

It is not reasonable to ignore them simply because they are demanding.

Consider

When I disagree with a teaching of the Church,
do I first ask whether I understand it correctly?

Do I examine the reasoning behind it?

Or do I dismiss it because it feels difficult?

Part Three

Where Pressure Appears

You may encounter different reactions to Catholic belief.

Some people may treat it as outdated.
Some may think it limits freedom.
Some may openly challenge its moral teaching.
Some may question the existence of God entirely.

You may hear:

“Religion causes harm.”
“Science has made belief unnecessary.”
“Morality is personal.”
“The Church is wrong about sexuality.”
“Just decide what feels right for you.”

These responses should not be feared.

But they should be examined.

If someone says morality is entirely personal,
ask: can cruelty ever be wrong for everyone?

If someone says science replaces belief in God,
ask: does science explain why anything exists at all?

If someone says faith is restrictive,
ask: does freedom mean inventing truth,
or living in accordance with reality?

Pressure does not determine truth.

Popularity does not determine truth.

If what the Church teaches is true,
then disagreement does not change it.

If it is false, it should not be followed.

The issue is not comfort.

The issue is truth.

Think Carefully

Have I ever adjusted my beliefs to avoid standing out?

Do I remain silent when I am unsure how to respond?

Am I afraid to examine difficult questions?

Part Four

Faith and Responsibility

As you grow older, responsibility increases.

You make more decisions.
You form deeper friendships.
You influence others.
You shape your character.

Catholic faith cannot remain something external.

It must shape:

How you understand yourself.
How you use your freedom.
How you treat others.
How you approach moral questions.

The Church does not ask for blind acceptance.

She asks for thoughtful assent grounded in truth.

Faith grows stronger when it is examined honestly.

Questions are not the enemy of faith.

Indifference is.

If something is true, it deserves commitment.

If Christ truly rose from the dead,
then He is not optional.

If the Eucharist is truly His Body and Blood,
then Mass is not symbolic routine.

If the Church speaks with authority from Christ,
then her teaching matters even when difficult.

Mature faith requires engagement.

Quiet Reflection

Sit quietly for a moment.

Ask yourself:

Do I believe what the Church teaches because it is true?
Or because it is familiar?

If following the Church cost me socially, would I remain steady?

What questions do I need to explore honestly?

Remain in silence.

This Week

Choose one:

• Read a Gospel passage slowly and ask whether it speaks truth about reality.
• Research one Catholic teaching you find difficult.
• Attend Mass deliberately, asking: “Do I believe this?”
• Pray each day: “Lord, strengthen my faith.”

Choose deliberately.

Do not rush.

Closing Prayer

Lord,
If You have spoken through Your Church,
help me recognise Your voice.
Strengthen my mind in truth
and my will in fidelity.
Give me courage
not merely to inherit faith,
but to choose it.
Amen.