To Believe
See also: Faith, conviction.
It is loving to know how to hope and To Believe beyond all measure and all reality that could contradict faith and hope. Well then, for all that, I tell you to know how to hope and To Believe despite all contrary reality.[1] (Jesus at Bethany, speaking to Martha and Mary to prepare them for the death of Lazarus).
It is impossible to live without To Believe. He who does not believe in God, the true God, will inevitably believe in other Gods. He who believes in no God will believe in idols, he will believe in the flesh, he will believe in money, he will have faith in the strength of the weapons. In short, one cannot not To Believe in anything. The Darkness of the Soul who believes in nothing human or superhuman is worse than the darkness into which the confessional plunges. All that remains is to kill body and Soul in a violent death.[2]
In "The Gospel as it was revealed to me"
- The need to To Believe is more urgent than that to breathe.[3]
- Jesus, before performing miracles, asks the Phoenician Fara for an act of faith: the "credo".[4]
- But You (Jesus), if as I firmly believe, You can do something, have mercy on us and help us. – If You can To Believe, all is possible to me, for all is granted to the one who believes. – Oh! Lord, if I believe! But if yet my faith is not sufficient, increase my faith.[5]
- It is loving to know how to hope and To Believe beyond all measure and all reality that could contradict faith and hope. Well then, for all that, I tell you to know how to hope and To Believe despite all contrary reality.[6]
In the other works of Maria Valtorta
The Notebooks of 1943
- Catechesis of August 1st: It is impossible to live without To Believe. He who does not believe in God, the true God, will inevitably believe in other Gods. He who believes in no God will believe in idols, he will believe in the flesh, he will believe in money, he will have faith in the strength of the weapons. In short, one cannot not To Believe in anything. The darkness of the Soul who believes in nothing human or superhuman is worse than the darkness into which confession plunges. All that remains is to kill body and Soul in a violent death (page 201).[7]