Catechism of the Catholic Church

PART ONE THE PROFESSION OF FAITH S ection O ne I B elieve —W e B elieve 26 We begin our profession of faith by saying: I believe or We believe. Before expounding the Church’s faith, as confessed in the Creed, celebrated in the liturgy, and lived in observance of God’s commandments and in prayer, we must first ask what “to believe” means. Faith is man’s response to God, who reveals himself and gives himself to man, at the same time bringing man a superabundant light as he searches for the ultimate meaning of his life. Thus we shall consider first that search ( Chapter One ), then the divine Revelation by which God comes to meet man ( Chapter Two ), and finally the response of faith ( Chapter Three ). C hapter O ne M an ’ s C apacity for G od I. T he D esire for G od 27 The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for: The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists, it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknow­ ledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator. 1 1 Vatican Council II, GS 19 § 1. 355, 170 1718