For many centuries, Catholic prayer books have included instructions on how to pray the Act of Faith, a specific prayer that affirms a person’s faith in God.
In a certain cense, the prayer is a shortened version of the Creed, which similarly summarizes a Christian’s beliefs.
One of the reasons why it has been given a permanent place in many prayer books is because of the witness of the saints and martyrs, who proclaimed their faith in God, despite threats of torture, or even death.
Here is how to pray the Act of Faith, according to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
O my God, I firmly believe
that you are one God in three divine Persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I believe that your divine Son became man
and died for our sins and that he will come
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe these and all the truths
which the Holy Catholic Church teaches
because you have revealed them
who are eternal truth and wisdom,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
In this faith I intend to live and die.
Amen.
