Cygel Dann L.

Miolata CREED
1ABMEM

1.) What are the characteristics of faith (CCC, nos. 153-165)? Enumerate at least 5
characteristics. (5 pts)
- Faith is a Grace
Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by him.
- Faith is a human act
Even in human relations it is not contrary to our dignity to believe what other persons tell
us about themselves and their intentions, or to trust their promises (for example, when a
man and a woman marry) to share a communion of life with one another.
- Faith and understanding
What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and
intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe "because of the authority of God
himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived".28 So "that the
submission of our faith might nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God willed that
external proofs of his Revelation should be joined to the internal helps of the Holy
Spirit."29 Thus the miracles of Christ and the saints, prophecies, the Church's growth
and holiness, and her fruitfulness and stability "are the most certain signs of divine
Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all"; they are "motives of credibility" (motiva
credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is "by no means a blind impulse of the
mind".
- The freedom of faith
Indeed, Christ invited people to faith and conversion, but never coerced them.
- The necessity of faith
Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for
obtaining that salvation.

2.) Describe the stages of the work of grace in Wilberforce until the moment that he
finally had the gift of faith. (5 pts)
- Wilberforce was tired and unfulfilled that he was unable to change the anything in the
government. He becomes physically ill which is most commonly known today as Crohn's
disease. Since he has given his hope, William turned back politics forever. After four
years in Legislature, William voyaged to Europe. On his vacation, an evangelical book
called Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul made him back on being religious. This
encouraged him to read bible and to not look back on gambling and drinking. And he
became devoted Christian for the rest of his life. Also, his supporter\lover Barbara
inspired him to keep fighting and to don’t lose hope, she also added that if he won’t keep
battling, nobody else can do so. A few days afterward, William and Barbara become as
 one, they get married and suddenly William filled with hope that makes him a fighter
again. But it is not a one shot, he attempted many times to present enactment more than
twenty years. Until one time, the bill was passed through Parliament in 1807, which
repeals the slave exchange the British domain until the end of time.

3.) How did the protagonist, Wilberforce, put his faith into action (be a witness of
faith)? How did it influence the way he approached public issues? Give at least two
specific examples. (5 pts)
- After committing that he is a Christian, he put his faith into action, he returns to England,
and spoke with John Newton. He encouraged Wilberforce more about religious life and
he also inspires William to remain in governmental issues and work for social change.
So, he gets back up and stand with his own feet and fought like a real fighter without fear
because of his faith. And that lead William Wilberforce a successful battle to pass the bill
called “Slave Trade Act 1807” against the government.
- Since Wilberforce grabbed the gift of God which is the faith, he took it very seriously
that made him a better fighter. He fought like a man, even though he was rejected for so
many times, but his faith did not let him to stop trying. So, he keeps on fighting until he
reached the point where the bill was passed.

4.) What do you think is the role of one’s faith in public life? Give at least one example
to illustrate your point. (Your answer should be a result of your effort to think
through the question and not a result of copying from the internet.) (5 pts)
- If you really trust the work of God in your life, you are not afraid to fight against anyone
else. If your faith in God is strong, problems and trials is not a big deal for you. Because
the role of faith is to keep your eyes wide open no matter what will happen. It will also
encourage you to keep on fighting even though trials are pulling you down. Why? Well
first of all, let me define the word “faith”. According to Hebrews 11:1-3 “Faith means
being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not
see it. 2 Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past.
3 It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God’s command so what
we see was made by something that cannot be seen.” My life is also an example of faith,
there is one time where my teacher picked me to speak in public and to share to everyone
my life. At first, I was so shy, and I really want to back out, I am shy because I don’t
want to share the story of my life to anyone because I know that it will only shame me.
So, I ran to God and ask for guidance, since our God is loving, he gave me faith and I
started trusting His process, until the time has come, and I willingly shared my story to
everyone, little did I know that my story will inspire some of my classmates, and that also
gave me a chance to motivate others.
SOURCES:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454776/plotsummary
https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/activists/william-wilberforce.html
https://www.biographyonline.net/politicians/uk/william-wilberforce.html
https://www.thecultureconcept.com/william-wilberforce-amazing-grace-the-hymn-to-
freedom
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11&version=NCV
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PX.HTM