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SeanCCR
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I love this passage in the Catechism (Paragraph 156 - III. The Characteristics of Faith.)
“What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe “because of the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.”28 So “that the submission of our faith might nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God willed that external proofs of his Revelation should be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit.”29 Thus the miracles of Christ and the saints, prophecies, the Church’s growth and holiness, and her fruitfulness and stability “are the most certain signs of divine Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all”; they are “motives of credibility” (motiva credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is “by no means a blind impulse of the mind.”
Faith and reason are not in contrast. Belief in God starts as an act of faith but reason soon follows and God provides us with “external proofs of his Revelation” so its not forever a blind faith. Things I took on faith reason ago now REASONABLY make sense to me now.
“What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe “because of the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.”28 So “that the submission of our faith might nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God willed that external proofs of his Revelation should be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit.”29 Thus the miracles of Christ and the saints, prophecies, the Church’s growth and holiness, and her fruitfulness and stability “are the most certain signs of divine Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all”; they are “motives of credibility” (motiva credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is “by no means a blind impulse of the mind.”
Faith and reason are not in contrast. Belief in God starts as an act of faith but reason soon follows and God provides us with “external proofs of his Revelation” so its not forever a blind faith. Things I took on faith reason ago now REASONABLY make sense to me now.
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SeanCCR
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This was the passage I was looking for:
Augustine of Hippo: Faith Seeking Understanding: In his Sermon (43.7, 9) Augustine asserted: Crede, ut intelligas (“Believe in order that you may understand”).12 For Augustine, faith (“trust in a reliable source”) is an indispensable element in knowledge. One must believe in something in order to know anything. Knowledge begins with faith and faith provides a foundation for knowledge. Faith is itself indirect knowledge (like testimony or authority). While faith comes first in time, knowledge comes first in importance. Faith and reason do not conflict, but instead complement one another. Augustine believed that while reason does not cause faith, reason everywhere supports faith. Augustine also argued that Christians should seek to use their reason to understand doctrines (the Trinity, Incarnation, etc.) that are given via divine revelation (thus “faith seeking understanding”). Augustine’s writings about the role of faith influenced Credo, ut intelligam (“I believe in order that I might understand”) by St. Anselm (a.d. 1033-1109).
I believe my cousin wants the knowledge without the leap of faith first.
Augustine of Hippo: Faith Seeking Understanding: In his Sermon (43.7, 9) Augustine asserted: Crede, ut intelligas (“Believe in order that you may understand”).12 For Augustine, faith (“trust in a reliable source”) is an indispensable element in knowledge. One must believe in something in order to know anything. Knowledge begins with faith and faith provides a foundation for knowledge. Faith is itself indirect knowledge (like testimony or authority). While faith comes first in time, knowledge comes first in importance. Faith and reason do not conflict, but instead complement one another. Augustine believed that while reason does not cause faith, reason everywhere supports faith. Augustine also argued that Christians should seek to use their reason to understand doctrines (the Trinity, Incarnation, etc.) that are given via divine revelation (thus “faith seeking understanding”). Augustine’s writings about the role of faith influenced Credo, ut intelligam (“I believe in order that I might understand”) by St. Anselm (a.d. 1033-1109).
I believe my cousin wants the knowledge without the leap of faith first.
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SeanCCR
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ahs
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AWESOME response!!! I read the whole thing and it’s fantastic.
As noted above, it’s Aramaic, not Greek, where Christ’s words are identical (Simon, you are “kepha” and upon this “kepha” I will buid My Church). The Greek is a translation from that where, instead of giving Peter a feminine name, (“kepha” = “pertra” in Greek) the translator gave him a masculine “petros”.
But even with that small bit, it was a powerful message and written in a wonderfully ecumenical way.
As noted above, it’s Aramaic, not Greek, where Christ’s words are identical (Simon, you are “kepha” and upon this “kepha” I will buid My Church). The Greek is a translation from that where, instead of giving Peter a feminine name, (“kepha” = “pertra” in Greek) the translator gave him a masculine “petros”.
But even with that small bit, it was a powerful message and written in a wonderfully ecumenical way.
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zippity
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Thanks for your post, SeanCCR. 
(All of em up to this point) 
(All of em up to this point)
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JoeT777
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As much as I love St. Augustine, sometimes it seems work the other way around., “intelligere et credere.” [Cf. Romans 10:17]
JoeT
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