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People can believe things for any number of reasons, but faith is more than simple belief. After all, even demons believe in God (James 2:19), but they are hardly faithful! Faith is an act of the will – it is trust in an authority. ​
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This is important to understand, for as Thomas Aquinas points out,

“in order that a man arrive at the perfect vision of heavenly happiness, he must first of all believe God, as a disciple believes the master who is teaching him”
​(Summa Theologiæ II-II, Q.2, A.3).


​A true disciple believes his master based on the authority of the master – not because the master teaches things with which the disciple happens to agree. Why someone believes is critical.​
What this means is that a person could, theoretically, believe everything that Christianity teaches yet be without true faith. Truths of faith concern those things which cannot be demonstrated, and so can only be taught by an authority and assented to. To disagree with a truth of faith, then, proves that one has not really assented to authority in the first place, but rather simply agreed based on one’s own opinion. 

Supernatural faith is a gift from God, but it is one that must be acted upon freely. God’s justice is shown in that it really is up to each person to decide whether they will trust him and his revelation or not. Without this option, the rewards and punishments of the afterlife would make no sense. God’s love is shown in that he is willing to let us choose him without coercion (including intellectual demonstration). To only believe what God reveals to the extent that we are convinced by other evidence indicates a lack of true faith. 
This is not to say that true faith is blind. God has given numerous evidences of the true religious authority on Earth. Creation itself proves that God exists (Romans 1, CCC 27-37), and human history (1 Corinthians 15:1-5) points to Jesus Christ and his Church as being God’s revelation. In the words of Blaise Pascal, God has given “enough light for those who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition” (Pensées 430).

This view of faith explains why those wishing to become Catholic can be asked to make the following Profession of Faith even prior to knowing the entirety of Catholic teaching:

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With firm faith, I also believe everything contained in the word of God, whether written or handed down in Tradition, which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed. I also firmly accept and hold each and everything definitively proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals. Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops enunciate when they exercise their authentic Magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim these teachings by a definitive act.
The content of the Catholic faith is succinctly expressed in the Nicene Creed which is prayed at Sunday Masses. The Church’s two millennia of doctrinal development are reflected in the official Catechism of the Catholic Church.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church
​A Stewardship Parish

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Location

1813 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355
​Fax (209) 551-3213

Privacy Policy

Office hours

Monday         8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday         8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday   1:00pm - 5:30pm
Thursday       8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday             8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday        Closed
Sunday           Closed

St. Joseph's phone numbers

Main Office:                                 (209) 551-4973
Library:                                         (209) 661-8828
Faith Formation Office :              (209) 661-8817 
RCIA:                                             (209) 581-8477
STJMOD Help Line:                      (209) 551-0229


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STJMOD, St. Joseph's Modesto, The Holy Family and Live the Faith Logo are registered trademarks of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
  • Our Parish
    • Mass Times
    • Sacraments >
      • Holy Eucharist
      • Reconciliation (Confession) >
        • Examination
      • Confirmation >
        • Confirmation (Adult)
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Baptism >
        • Baptism page 2
      • Marriage >
        • Marriage page 2
      • Holy Orders
    • Consecration to St. Joseph
    • St. Joseph's Library
    • About Catholicism >
      • The Gospel
      • The Church
      • The Faith
      • Stewardship
      • Becoming Catholic/Returning to the Church
      • Defend the faith
      • More >
        • Holy Spirit Novena
        • Mother of Perpetual Help Novena
        • 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
        • Beatitudes
        • Catechism of the Catholic Church
    • Live Stream
    • STJMOD APP
    • Share your story
    • Prayer Request
    • Scholarships
    • Parish History
    • Bishop Cotta
    • Child and Youth Protection
    • BMA 2021
  • Faith Formation
    • Sacrament Preparation
    • Family Faith Formation >
      • Circle of Grace
      • Why Family Faith Formation
    • Adult Faith Formation >
      • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
      • Adult Faith Study
      • STJMOD Daughters of the King (Women's Faith Study)
      • Lunch Time Bible Study
      • St. Joseph's Workshop (Men's Faith Study)
      • Seven steps to becoming financially free
    • Teen Faith Formation >
      • Becoming Catholic
      • Sacramental Preparation
      • High School Youth (Grade 9-12)
      • Middle School Youth (Grade 7-8)
      • Retreats
    • Children's Faith Formation >
      • Becoming Catholic
      • Sacramental Preparation >
        • FHC
      • Adoration for Children
      • Children's Liturgy of the Word
      • Vacation Bible Retreat
      • Enrollment
    • Homeschool Families
    • Online Resource
  • News
    • Fish Fry
    • Events
    • About Voting as Catholics
    • Fr. Sam's Blog
    • Publications >
      • Parish Bulletin
      • Live the Faith Magazine
      • Promote your event
      • Stewardship Resources
    • Guinness Record
  • Get Involved
    • STJMOD Young Adult (Ages 18-35)
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    • Stewardship
    • Liturgical Ministries
    • Outreach Ministries
    • Community Life Stewardship
    • Youth Volunteers
    • Parish Leadership
    • Militia of the Immaculata
  • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Registration Inquiry
    • Get Notifications
    • Homeschool Info
  • Donate Now