How does one attain the Theological Virtue of Faith?

[Birdmanman]

(I realize there is a similar question, “what is faith”, currently being answered on these forums, however I feel it differs slightly from this question).

Reason tells us much, including the existence of a moral God. (Assuming practical reason, that is, the universe has objective morality).
From reason and the observance of supernatural things, we can come to a not just theistic, but religious view of the universe.

But the last step, to believe in a particular religious view of the universe, I think requires something that goes beyond Reason. So on what grounds do we take the last step?
The last step, I would say, in coming to a Catholic view of the universe, is Faith, defined in the CCC as:

"the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.”

And further we see the Theological Virtues “are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life”.

So how do we know, or how does a potential convert know, that God has infused this into his or her soul, especially if the person is not yet faithful?

To give a hypothetical example: Working with a potential convert,
(1) I use the cosmological/moral/ontological arguments to show there is one God, Creator of us all and is Himself the moral Orderer of Morality
(2) I then show him to trust as true various reports of the miraculous; the apparitions of Knock and Zeitoun and Lourdes and Akita and Fatima, the prediction of Sister Faustina and Our Lady of Good Success or ask him if he will trust the testimony of the martyr-apostles about the miracles in the life of Christ. The potential convert assents to the supernatural truth of these miracles.
(3) The potential convert is then presented with a situation like C.S. Lewis’s “Lord, Liar, or Lunatic”, either these supernatural apparitions are ignorant or crazy and do not know what they supernaturally talk about, or they are demonic, as the Pharisees thought of Christ’s miracles, or they are from God and point to the truth of Christianity.
(4) How does the potential convert make this choice? His reason has been satiated as far as it can be; there is evidence and good motive, but the other options always remain; he can go put his faith in the supernatural occurrences (no doubt demonic) of another religion, or some futuristic religion that mirrors Church teachings exactly except with the belief in another messiah.
(5) This is a free choice on his part that cannot be made through reasoning through the observed evidence alone (Vatican I teaches that assent to the truth of Christianity cannot be made, by mere human argument, a necessity of reason); so what is it made through? Is it even possible to determine on what criteria this choice is made? Keep in mind this is a potential convert, so to say “He should believe it because it is truth” or “because God has said it is true” would sound like a circular argument or an unsupported assertion.

Thanks for any help I could get with this. I have spoken with a philosophy-professor priest on this topic, and the best I could get was something like “On what criteria does a man love his wife? If he could enumerate a list of reasons and say “that’s all of them”, he should be worried”.

 

[Edward_H]

You simply ask God for more faith, hope, and love.

You might also ask God to show you what you may be doing which prevents you from receiving more faith, hope or love.

 

[Birdmanman]

You simply ask God for more faith, hope, and love.

You might also ask God to show you what you may be doing which prevents you from receiving more faith, hope or love.

Thanks for your response, Edward!
But how then would the convert know he has faith? He can discipline himself into doing good works and following natural and divine law, and then with a mentality (like that of Pascal’s wager) say “well, it seems I have gone as far as reason will allow, there seems to be no reason to deny the truth of this religion, but I neither feel nor think no further reason to accept it, but I must accept something supernatural (for agnosticism has been ruled out), so I will pick this one on no criteria whatsoever as what I believe to be absolutely true, although I could have said the same thing about another religion that has (no doubt, demonic) supernatural occurrences”.
How do we know God has infused us with Faith, without being able to reason it or feel it? Is it morally incorrect to give Full Assent of Faith to the truth of Catholicism by picking it out of a metaphorical hat of religions that have reported supernatural occurrences? How else can this free choice of Faith be made?

 

[MarcoPolo]

Thanks for your response, Edward!
But how then would the convert know he has faith? He can discipline himself into doing good works and following natural and divine law, and then with a mentality (like that of Pascal’s wager) say “well, it seems I have gone as far as reason will allow, there seems to be no reason to deny the truth of this religion, but I neither feel nor think no further reason to accept it, but I must accept something supernatural (for agnosticism has been ruled out), so I will pick this one on no criteria whatsoever as what I believe to be absolutely true, although I could have said the same thing about another religion that has (no doubt, demonic) supernatural occurrences”.
How do we know God has infused us with Faith, without being able to reason it or feel it? Is it morally incorrect to give Full Assent of Faith to the truth of Catholicism by picking it out of a metaphorical hat of religions that have reported supernatural occurrences? How else can this free choice of Faith be made?

Can the person answer yes to the Nicene Creed? That’s a start. Can the person say his/her heart is disposed to embrace the truth in accord with his/her best understanding? Then that person, can at least to some degree, say they have faith.

Have you read Bl. John Henry Newman’s comment: For directly you have a conviction that you ought to believe, reason has done its part, and what is wanted for faith is, not proof, but will. Here is the quote in context.

 

[Edward_H]

Thanks for your response, Edward!
But how then would the convert know he has faith? He can discipline himself into doing good works and following natural and divine law, and then with a mentality (like that of Pascal’s wager) say “well, it seems I have gone as far as reason will allow, there seems to be no reason to deny the truth of this religion, but I neither feel nor think no further reason to accept it, but I must accept something supernatural (for agnosticism has been ruled out), so I will pick this one on no criteria whatsoever as what I believe to be absolutely true, although I could have said the same thing about another religion that has (no doubt, demonic) supernatural occurrences”.
How do we know God has infused us with Faith, without being able to reason it or feel it? Is it morally incorrect to give Full Assent of Faith to the truth of Catholicism by picking it out of a metaphorical hat of religions that have reported supernatural occurrences? How else can this free choice of Faith be made?

Why is it important to know (or feel) that one has faith? I think it’s more important that God sees you acting and loving confident that you know that He is your Father, and you His son.
Living your divine filiation. Our “intelligence” (really our pride) can get in the way of unity with God…our curiosity, our desire to know, to control, to feel.

 

[Birdmanman]

Can the person answer yes to the Nicene Creed? That’s a start. Can the person say his/her heart is disposed to embrace the truth in accord with his/her best understanding? Then that person, can at least to some degree, say they have faith.

Have you read Bl. John Henry Newman’s comment: For directly you have a conviction that you ought to believe, reason has done its part, and what is wanted for faith is, not proof, but will. Here is the quote in context.

Wonderful quote, thanks MarcoPolo!
The person could certainly say these things, but though they do assent, they would also say they have no reason why they should assent to the Nicene Creed over another creed (with supernatural “support”) except that they realize they must choose to assent to at least one and that they cannot simultaneously assent to them all for they are mutually exclusive. That is, the will would be there, but it would be more of a whim than a firm agreement.
Speaking in Newman’s terms, this is someone for whom reason has done its part, but is not able to sense by reason or feeling the proper course to take with their will.

Why is it important to know (or feel) that one has faith? I think it’s more important that God sees you acting and loving confident that you know that He is your Father, and you His son.
Living your divine filiation. Our “intelligence” (really our pride) can get in the way of unity with God…our curiosity, our desire to know, to control, to feel.

Thanks for responding again, Edward.
The person in question would be living a life in accord with God’s teachings, but would have no reason for living his or her life that way except that he or she has a whim or predisposition to do so, by upbringing or by convenience. Surely those are not the criteria on which Faith is based?
The issue, in how I understand it, would be they are assenting to something that they have chosen randomly, without reason or feeling; they would just as well have picked something else to call God’s teaching, provided it had supernatural support (imagine it like this: the person compiled a list of all religions that had supernatural claims and that satisfied reason (each religion had a Theistic God, natural law, consistent and unchanging orthodox teaching with clear authority to interpret and profess those teachings) threw them in a hat, shook the hat up, closed their eyes and picked out Christianity, then said “I firmly adhere to as absolutely true all that this religion adheres to, for I have no other basis of reason or feeling by which to judge which religion to adhere to”). Would such a situation not be unsettling? While I would be happy they picked Catholic Christianity, I would be uncomfortable with that process…

 

[Blue_Horizon]

Hello BMM
**Reason tells us much, including the existence of a moral God. **
In practice I believe the use of reason providing us certain knowledge of God’s existence (let alone His “morality” (I am presuming you mean He cares of Humankind)) is highly overplayed. If we had angelic intellects yes, but 99.9% of us don’t so we “believe” in God’s existence rather than first “know” it. Hmmn, that was a long sentence.

It is interesting to know that even the fallen Angels have faith when it comes to knowledge about God (eg anything more complicated than His actual existence). However that faith is sterile and is not salvific because it is necessitated by their powerful intellects which “force” them to conclusions about God by reason of knowing of created effects in the natural order.

**…we can come to a not just theistic, but religious view of the universe. **
I do not know what this means sorry.

So how do we know, or how does a potential convert know, that God has infused this into his or her soul, especially if the person is not yet faithful?
I would be concerned that you feel the interior need to ask this question. “What do you think drives this quest” is probably a more helpful question to meditate on.
Noone gets to have that answered with certainty, all of us work out our salvation humbly in fear and trembling.

**The issue, in how I understand it, would be they are assenting to something that they have chosen randomly, without reason or feeling; they would just as well have picked something else to call God’s teaching, provided it had supernatural support (imagine it like this: the person compiled a list of all religions that had supernatural claims and that satisfied reason (each religion had a Theistic God, natural law, consistent and unchanging orthodox teaching with clear authority to interpret and profess those teachings) threw them in a hat, shook the hat up, closed their eyes and picked out Christianity, then said “I firmly adhere to as absolutely true all that this religion adheres to, for I have no other basis of reason or feeling by which to judge which religion to adhere to”). Would such a situation not be unsettling? While I would be happy they picked Catholic Christianity, I would be uncomfortable with that process… **

Yes, I think this is how some people work and I see nothing wrong with it. We start where life throws us, blind, deaf and dumb. Slowly, those who follow the actual graces of God, come to an inchoate understanding and crawl in a direction generally towards the light. Our understandings are pathetic models and WIPs (works in progress).

We don’t advance by Reason (i.e. armchair intellectual knowledge) but by putting the occassional insights/“feelings” into a semi-committed practice (or “Praxis” ( as they call it) and see if it works. We “try it on”. If we crawl towards a stronger light then we are, so far, probably on the right track. If it starts getting cold and dark again, maybe we use Reason/“feeling” to make another committed call and modify our misguided direction.

Somewhere along the line, outside “actual graces” becomes “sanctifying grace” and we are powered by God from within. We “get a conatural feel” for the right direction. Before it was guessing, trial and error. Now we just “know” (not “armchair knowledge”) - although big mistakes can still be made if we get slack and proud.

Anyway thats my take.

You may like to search on “motives of credibility” (esp Aquinas) which explore the relationship between Will and Reason in the virtue of faith - if you haven’t been there already. Will is predominant in faith, but Reason cannot be ignored or we have gullible fideism instead.

QUOTE]

 

[Birdmanman]

Thanks so much for your insightful response, Blue Horizon!

To your first point, I realize many people believe, not prove to themselves, the existence of a moral (Theistic) God, but please keep in mind that as Catholics we, as a matter of faith, say “that God, the source and end of all things, can be known with certainty from the consideration of created things, by the natural power of human reason : ever since the creation of the world, his invisible nature has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.” (Vatican I).

When I say “not just a theistic, but religious view of the universe”, I mean that any person who would be theistic but not believe in a religion in which the supernatural (at the either passive allowance or active will of God) interacts with humanity would, after observing or trusting one who has observed a miracle, be forced by reason to ascribe to at least some kind of religion to give explanation or at least assent to the reality of that supernatural interaction (whether it is a ‘private religion’ or an ‘organized religion’ would be a different matter).

“Noone gets to have that answered with certainty, all of us work out our salvation humbly in fear and trembling.”

Then from where do we get the ability to state, with perfect and 100% assurance, that the Catholic Faith is entirely true? How would a soon-to-be-convert be able to try to state this, when his or her reason or feeling cannot, to his knowledge, be brought any farther to acknowledge it except by his free decision, not based on reason or feeling? (I do not mean to say the soon-to-be-convert does not use reason in his decision up to a point, I mean he or she has crossed the point at which reason can be used, reason has been satisfied, and now a choice must be made, but what method can be used to make the choice if not by reason or by feeling?)

“We “get a conatural feel” for the right direction. Before it was guessing, trial and error. Now we just “know” (not “armchair knowledge”) - although big mistakes can still be made if we get slack and proud.”

Could you describe for me the “conatural feel”? Is it felt physically? How do you know when you have this feel? I think this may be close to the core of what I’m asking about.

I have looked into the Catholic Encyclopedia on motives of credibility, but not into Aquinas himself. In my hypothetical example of a potential convert, by trusting those who have witnessed miracles, the potential convert has already considered and accepted by his or her reason the motives of credibility. He or she has also evaluated the (no doubt false or demonic or confused or otherwise lacking) “motives of credibility” of other faiths, things like the Hindu Milk Miracle or some ‘supernatural’ Islamic Hadith tales. This is what I mean when I say the potential convert puts “supernaturally supported” as well as “reason supported” religions into a metaphorical hat. (For those considering asking, please don’t get hung up on what these other religions might be, for this exercise just pretend they are actually in accord with reason and demons have worked supernatural effects to make them appear consistent and mystical). Maybe I, like you, should not be bothered by this process of “random evaluation”, it still feels off to me.

Thank you again for your timely and considerate response

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

The theological virtue of Faith is not something one can acquire and increase. That is as impossible as someone growing a new arm!

Faith, being a theological virtue, can only be infused and let be grown by God in someone. The only thing we can do is nurture and protect it. and to get out of its way. And it takes one’s whole lifetime for it to mature fully. That is, by the way, the very reason for our length of time in this world: it is the full time needed for the seeds of Faith, Hope, and Charity to fully mature in us to be harvested by God.

 

[Birdmanman]

+JMJ+

The theological virtue of Faith is not something one can acquire and increase. That is as impossible as someone growing a new arm!

Faith, being a theological virtue, can only be infused and let be grown by God in someone. The only thing we can do is nurture and protect it. and to get out of its way. And it takes one’s whole lifetime for it to mature fully. That is, by the way, the very reason for our length of time in this world: it is the full time needed for the seeds of Faith, Hope, and Charity to fully mature in us to be harvested by God.

Thanks for your response, nuntym!
Does God give this Faith to all those who ask for it? (I’m thinking along the lines of “knock and the door will be opened to you”)
If my hypothetical soon-to-be-convert friend has asked, and is living as sincerely as possible in a Catholic lifestyle without being able to give 100% assent to the truth of the Catholic Faith, and has used reason and trust of supernatural occurences to rule out all but a few religions, what further should he or she do? How can an effective prayer be made without full belief that the one being prayed to truly exists? (By this I do not mean the person disbelieves in God simply understood, but does not fully believe in the Trinity to whom he or she ought to make prayer and ask for Faith).

 

[nuntym]

Thanks for your response, nuntym!
Does God give this Faith to all those who ask for it? (I’m thinking along the lines of “knock and the door will be opened to you”)
If my hypothetical soon-to-be-convert friend has asked, and is living as sincerely as possible in a Catholic lifestyle without being able to give 100% assent to the truth of the Catholic Faith, and has used reason and trust of supernatural occurences to rule out all but a few religions, what further should he or she do? How can an effective prayer be made without full belief that the one being prayed to truly exists? (By this I do not mean the person disbelieves in God simply understood, but does not fully believe in the Trinity to whom he or she ought to make prayer and ask for Faith).

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

Thanks for your response, nuntym!
Does God give this Faith to all those who ask for it? (I’m thinking along the lines of “knock and the door will be opened to you”)

Yes, every time. And not only that, but even that small seed of faith is quite powerful already.

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 17:19[/BIBLEDRB]

If my hypothetical soon-to-be-convert friend has asked, and is living as sincerely as possible in a Catholic lifestyle without being able to give 100% assent to the truth of the Catholic Faith, and has used reason and trust of supernatural occurences to rule out all but a few religions, what further should he or she do? How can an effective prayer be made without full belief that the one being prayed to truly exists? (By this I do not mean the person disbelieves in God simply understood, but does not fully believe in the Trinity to whom he or she ought to make prayer and ask for Faith).

Even that small amount of faith, as long as it’s there, will show tremendous results, as long as she never stops trying and knocking and believing.

It may sound so childishly simple, but that is what is asked of us, you know.

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 18:3[/BIBLEDRB]

 

[Birdmanman]

+JMJ+

Yes, every time. And not only that, but even that small seed of faith is quite powerful already.

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 17:19[/BIBLEDRB]

Even that small amount of faith, as long as it’s there, will show tremendous results, as long as she never stops trying and knocking and believing.

It may sound so childishly simple, but that is what is asked of us, you know.

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 18:3[/BIBLEDRB]

Thanks nuntym. I guess it is foolish to look for a litmus test for when or how we have the Theological Virtue of Faith; we obtain it by God infusing it in us, and no amount of physical sensitivity or evaluation of reason will let us read this act on the soul. Even though we ought to show our Faith through works, I cannot tell which works are done with Faith or done faithlessly. I appreciate your help!

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

Thanks nuntym. I guess it is foolish to look for a litmus test for when or how we have the Theological Virtue of Faith; we obtain it by God infusing it in us, and no amount of physical sensitivity or evaluation of reason will let us read this act on the soul. Even though we ought to show our Faith through works, I cannot tell which works are done with Faith or done faithlessly. I appreciate your help!

Anytime Birdmanman And hey, you’re not the only one having that kind of thinking. It seems what I answered for you was what I was needing to hear for the past few days. How amazing the Holy Spirit sometimes acts!

 

[MarcoPolo]

they would also say they have no reason why they should assent to the Nicene Creed … Speaking in Newman’s terms, this is someone for whom reason has done its part, but is not able to sense by reason or feeling the proper course to take with their will.

It sounds like your colleague would still be stuck in the mindset of demanding “proof” if they think there is no “reason” to assent to the Nicene Creed. The historical testimony of Christianity, the martyrs, the witnesses of the resurrection, etc… are reasons. A study of history will demonstrate the Church that flowed from Christ’s foundation subsists in the Church that produced the creed. So I think your friend is lacking the “will,” and trying too hard to treat faith as a science.

It may help to point out occasions of faith in their lives for which they seem to have no sudden “trouble” giving their faith. Such as depending on another person’s word that they will go to an appointment; or for instance they are willing to risk their very lives at 60+ mph in a car with the premise that they think they will not be killed in transit, etc… Someone can probably link to thoughts of Chesterton on this matter - how people who say they have so much trouble with religious faith, and how they exercise myriads of other occasions of faith in their lives to the point of risking their lives on the basis of some belief.

 

[Edward_H]

Thanks for responding again, Edward.
The person in question would be living a life in accord with God’s teachings, but would have no reason for living his or her life that way except that he or she has a whim or predisposition to do so, by upbringing or by convenience. Surely those are not the criteria on which Faith is based?

Only God knows what’s in their heart. Just because someone is supposedly living life according to God’s teachings, seems to me to be an inadequate basis for our life. We need to act out of love of God, for Him, not just adhere to some sort of baseline of natural law. But again, it’s God’s call.

Maybe I am missing your point.

 

[Birdmanman]

MarcoPolo, great points, I’ll keep this in mind! I’ve said something similar: you trust a pilot with your life on an airplane and a doctor with your health, why not trust people who have been direct witnesses to an event and died to give testimony to it with your religion? But again, even the acceptance of the supernatural nature of Christ’s resurrection does not prove, by necessity of reason, His Incarnation. (The nonbeliever could say demonic forces caused Him to rise from the grave).

(Keep in mind this is not a real colleague, what I have given is a hypothetical situation that blends together several viewpoints, including my own).

Only God knows what’s in their heart. Just because someone is supposedly living life according to God’s teachings, seems to me to be an inadequate basis for our life. We need to act out of love of God, for Him, not just adhere to some sort of baseline of natural law. But again, it’s God’s call.

Maybe I am missing your point.

Thanks again for responding, Edward!
I’ll try to put my point more clearly:
It concerns me that there is not a method or way of knowing, by reason, when one has received the Theological Virtue of Faith. I am thus in a situation where I cannot suggest anything concrete to a hypothetical colleague as to how he or she can attain this Faith, nor does it appear can I know through my intellect if I myself have this Faith, or if I have simply a belief based on a choice made through convenience, happenstance, perceived beauty, etc…
However, as nuntym suggests, as a part of Our Faith we believe God will provide Faith to those who ask Him (with sincerity and without something blocking him or her from receiving it). So the proper course of action would be to ask my hypothetical colleague to sincerely ask God for the gift of Faith, even if my colleague does not yet have faith that God can provide Faith in this way. But the further concern is, how does my colleague know if he or she is sincere when asking? How do they know if they have received Faith, or are making a choice to accept something as entirely true only because they feel they must accept something, or because of some other frivolous cause (like chance or aesthetic appeal).

The core of my question has been answered; Faith, or having Faith, is not something I can observe in myself or in others by reason or feeling alone. It is a supernatural gift, and not able to be discovered in myself or in others by merely natural perception. I or my colleague must have faith that we have Faith.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

It concerns me that there is not a method or way of knowing, by reason, when one has received the Theological Virtue of Faith.

BMM I discern your quest in this Apologetics section is really one of personal spirituality and growth.

So let me change tack and approach your need from an angle that will appear as a non-sequitur to you but will, I believe, eventually resolve your emotional “concern”.

The ancient desert monks (Eastern) who devoted their lives to constantly developing union with God developed a theology of “Apatheia” and, related to it, “Kenosis”. You will find adequate articles on these on the Net (e.g. Wiki or pittsburghoratory.blogspot.co.nz/ as an example.).

My take on Apatheia is this - to let God breathe and expand in us we must gradually let go of our “attachments” to the created order. Most people think that is just “desire” but it actually includes “aversions” as well. That doesn’t mean we stop using money, sex, power etc. It means we try to use them as life and reason dictates, and not exploit (i.e. blindly follow) the emotion/feeling (whether desire or aversion) that often goes with them. It hold for spiritual goods as well.

We cannot pursue God directly in the early and middle stages because we really have no good discernment who He is or what he wants of us. All we can do is let go of the world so He has room to grow in us to the point where “we can ride the bike” without trainers.

Excuse my bluntness but your “concerns” suggest some attachment to **understanding **or even certainty before you can easily follow God’s lead. Yes understanding plays a role of course but it should not be pursued with the feeling and emotion I feel in my heart when I read your excellent contributions here. If it comes it comes, if it doesn’t it doesn’t. Just keep doing the daily Christian praxis - keeping the commandments, praying (rather than saying “prayers”). Conviction and direction will follow if you let go and just do - trusting in darkness if necessary.

We do not get to see the distant destination from the getgo. But we are given to see the next step only after taking the step that led up to it. That is how it works.

You may get something out of John Climacus “The Divine Ladder” (I think). Probably pdf for free at Ethereal Classics Library.

 

[Birdmanman]

Thanks for your continued interest in discussing with me, Blue Horizon!

BMM I discern your quest in this Apologetics section is really one of personal spirituality and growth.

You are correct in this.

Excuse my bluntness but your “concerns” suggest some attachment to **understanding **or even certainty before you can easily follow God’s lead. Yes understanding plays a role of course but it should not be pursued with the feeling and emotion I feel in my heart when I read your excellent contributions here. If it comes it comes, if it doesn’t it doesn’t.

I may be misunderstanding; in order to have Faith, we must have Faith with certainty, so would it not be harmful to Faith to forfeit certainty? For example; should one who doesn’t fully believe with certainty that Christ has instituted the sacraments receive The Eucharist or The Sacrament of Penance? In this case, certainty is a prerequisite for total praxis.
I can certainly see what you mean by my attachment to “understanding” though, my (or my hypothetical colleague’s) aversion to accepting something without fully understanding the basis on which to accept it itself has no basis in reason either (once reason has been satisfied about it I mean), so no matter what, by acceptance or rejection of our Catholic Faith, a claim is made based on something other than reason. “Faith seeks understanding” but mere human understanding only stands at the precipice of Faith unless it has the Divinely infused means to freely will to accept the Faith.

I will certainly enjoy reading into what you have suggested!

 

[Blue_Horizon]

BMM some great insights above

I see a little bit of confusion which may be sorted by an understanding of Augustine’s distinction between 3 different types of believing (i.e. the three “Credo’s”).
Are you familiar with them?

Just wanted to comment on the following:

…in order to have Faith, we must have Faith with certainty, so would it not be harmful to Faith to forfeit certainty?
I believe there is something seriously deficient in the way we are taught that faith allegedly brings “certainty.” Its in Aquinas but it seems to contradict the actual experience of many saints and even accepted mystical theology (e.g. Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross are both adamant that strong souls are intentionally subjected to a “Dark Night” of the body, then the soul, by God in His desire to purify them.
It may be a matter of translation and changes in word meaning/context since medieval times. It is certainly related to the three Credo’s I mention above but I do not wish to go there if you are not familiar with the distinction.
**
For example; should one who doesn’t fully believe with certainty that Christ has instituted the sacraments receive The Eucharist or The Sacrament of Penance? In this case, certainty is a prerequisite for total praxis.**

No! I am probably saying the opposite in this scenario. By “praxis” I mean we get the theory/understanding/conviction only after doing. Human pride tends to make us do the opposite. I never met anyone who learnt to ride a bike by reading the manual beforehand. Easy to write the manual after you’ve earn’t your bruises and mastered the bike though

If you want certainty…damn well do the thing you are uncertain about! Take a risk, look stupid. Conviction will follow (if it doesn’t and you’ve really given it a good go how can God reprehend you). That’s praxis (the conviction of theory is learnt only** in **the practice/risking with many emotional doubts).
A 1000 emotional/intellectual doubts isn’t a denial. “Not doing” is the denial.