3. Response

3. Our Response to God Faith is a gift to be both received and shared Compendium 25-35 Luke 1:26-38 (Fiat) 1. Obedience of Faith: Divine Faith acknowledges the Truth that God has revealed in his goodness and authority and enables us to remain in his presence and follow him. 2. The Blessed Mother's response to Gabriel "let it be done unto me" is a model for everyone. 3. We say "I believe" because Faith is both personal and ecclesial. Faith is nourished in and through the community of believers. 4. Evangelization and catechesis are two essential components of faith. 5. As our faith grows we begin to share here and now in the life of heaven. 6. Faith helps us to understand supernatural truths and clarifies what cannot be understood by reason alone. 7. Both Faith and Science originate in God and cannot contradict each other. 8. It is important for us to memorize and understand the formulas of faith such as the Apostles Creed. 9. The Ten Commandments are indispensable for a just and peaceful society. Jesus summarizes these in the two great commandments of love: love God and neighbor and finally gives his new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. This is the formula for perfection which Jesus offers the rich young man. 10. The beatitudes are the formula for happiness. 11. The 7 Corporal Works of Mercy and the 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy are the blueprint for authentic daily Christian living. 12. The 7 Virtues are to be cultivated and bring the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as the 12 Fruits (Galations 5:22-23) of living the Gifts and enable us to avoid the 7 Deadly Vices. 13. The 5 Precepts keep us faithful to the Church and the 4 Last Things determine our final destiny. 14. As important as it is necessary to know and live these formulas, they are useless without complete charity, sincere tenderness, indomitable patience, total forgiveness and profound humility. This is all summed up in Mary's fiat: "Let it be done to me according to your word."