Catholics and the need for “Faith Seeking Understanding”

Source: By Caravaggio — Downloaded from Google Arts & Culture using dezoomify-rshttps://artsandculture.google.com/asset/der-ungl%C3%A4ubige-thomas-michelangelo-merisi-named-caravaggio/OAEjjQkNdRL9sg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=120649550

The concept of faith-seeking understanding (fides quaerens intellectum) is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and is championed by great teachers of the faith, such as St. Augustine, St. Anselm, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Here’s my take on why Catholics should engage in this pursuit according to these holy teachers:

1. St. Augustine (354–430): Understanding Deepens Faith

• Augustine taught that faith and reason are not opposed but work together. He famously said, “I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe” (credo ut intelligam, intelligo ut credam).
• For Augustine, faith is the foundation, but understanding strengthens it. By seeking deeper knowledge, we love God more fully.

2. St. Anselm (1033–1109): Faith Seeks Rational Depth

• Anselm coined the phrase fides quaerens intellectum. He believed that faith naturally leads the believer to seek greater understanding.
• This is not about doubting faith but about deepening it through reason and reflection, leading to a fuller grasp of divine truths.

3. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274): Harmony of Faith and Reason

• Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, emphasized that faith and reason are complementary.
• He argued that reason helps us articulate and defend the truths of faith, making them more intelligible to ourselves and others.
• Through philosophy and theology, we can explore and explain the mysteries of God without diminishing their divine nature.

4. The Catholic Church’s Teaching (e.g., Fides et Ratio, CCC 158)

• St. Pope John Paul II, in Fides et Ratio (1998), reaffirmed that faith and reason work together to lead us to truth.
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 158) teaches that “Faith seeks understanding” because a believer naturally desires to know the One in whom they place their trust.

Why This Matters for Catholics Today

1. To Love God More Deeply — Seeking understanding enhances our relationship with God.
2. To Defend the Faith — In a world of skepticism, reason helps us explain and defend Catholic beliefs.
3. To Live More Faithfully — A well-formed mind leads to a well-lived faith.

Thus, faith seeking understanding is not just an intellectual exercise but a path to loving God with our whole heart, soul, and mind (cf. Matthew 22:37).