Act of the Will

At the core of living out our faith is an act of the will. Each day, we are bestowed the tremendous gift of choice—the power to embrace or refuse grace.

This leads to a pivotal question: What will we do with this gift? When the appointed time for prayer arrives, will we engage, or will we let distractions lead us astray? We are surrounded by a myriad of options, but discerning what we should do is crucial.

As Venerable Fulton Sheen insightfully noted, true freedom is not just the ability to do as we please, but the power to do what we ought. It’s about aligning our actions with what is right and just.

With this freedom comes the responsibility to control our actions and cultivate self-discipline. It is through such self-control that we can truly glorify God and pursue our own sanctification.

Faith, therefore, is not merely a feeling or an emotion, though it can certainly be influenced by both. The real test of faith comes when the emotional highs wane—when we feel spiritually dry or isolated. In these moments, the strength of our will is truly tested. What choices will we make when the feelings fade and the path becomes arduous?

In every moment, living our faith demands an act of will. It’s a deliberate choice to follow God, especially when it's challenging.