Act Of Faith,
Act of Hope, And Act of Charity

The old Catholic Act of Faith prayer is easy to learn and is basically a recap on the Apostle's Creed.

This page has the version from the 1885 Baltimore Catechism and later versions. Use the links to jump down:

Act of Faith
Act of Hope
Act of Charity
Act of Contrition (links to its own page)

Learn the traditional Act of Faith for an increase in the virtue of final perseverance. Also see the Acts of Hope and Charity below.

Sometimes the sisters or a catechist will ask children preparing for the first reception of the Holy Eucharist to learn several of these Acts since they make awesome morning prayers or evening prayers. In fact the Church has long recommended them for morning and evening prayers.

More frequently they are not required for little children who have not yet received the sacrament of Penance because they are busy learning the Act of Contrition, the Apostles' Creed, Our Father, and Hail Mary.

Another reason some catechism classes do not require these prayers is that the Creed and Act of Contrition start in such a similar way as to confuse many little ones. The Act of Faith prayer easily morphs to become the Apostles Creed and vise versa.

There have been times in our family when we've all veered from one prayer right into the other. This happens with the Saint Andrew prayer, too. :-)

The Act of Faith, Hope, and Charity Prayers from the old Baltimore Catechism - great morning and evening prayers!

Symbol of Faith, Hope, and Charity

1. Baltimore Catechism Act of Faith Prayer

Statement of Faith

O my God! I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;

I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.

If you get our catechism worksheets, your children can practice the Act of Faith in manuscript and cursive writing.

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By the time children are preparing for Catholic Confirmation, it is definitely good to know these Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity. They ask for the main graces necessary to keep the Faith and to die well.

Again, many Catholics use them for morning and night prayers.

The Act of Faith sums up the Apostles' Creed. It also gives the reason Catholics believe in the Blessed Trinity: God Himself revealed it. Whether or not we can understand a revelation, we believe it because He Who is Omniscient, All-Knowing, revealed it!

Most catechisms that say that we should learn the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity by the time we receive Confirmation. They teach that these are the prayers that include what a martyr needs at his most glorious hour. Why?

A martyr dies for the Catholic Faith,
hopes for Heaven,
forgives his persecutor for the love of God,
and is sorry for his sins.

One, two, three, four - these prayers cover the basics. All these prayers are included in the Saint Anne's Helper audio, worksheet, and ebooklet downloads. You can see these prayers and all the questions and answers for First Communion and Confirmation here.

Audio Baltimore Catechism CDs and digital downloads.

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2. Old Baltimore Catechism Act of Hope Is A Prayer For The Virtue Of Hope

O my God! relying on Thine infinite goodness and promises,
I hope to obtain pardon of my sins,
The help of Thy grace, and life everlasting,
Through the merits of Jesus Christ, My Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

The Act of Hope from the 1885 Baltimore Catechism is very easy to learn. The virtue of hope is often overlooked today, but it is precisely the antidote to so many people today losing hope in their lives.

The virtue of hope neither despairs or presumes.

Those who do not have or practice the Catholic Faith can fall prey to these sins of despair and presumption. Sometimes all we need to do is make a mental act to know that "all is not lost", but few of us can do this without the Catholic Faith and constant prayer. This prayer helps us gain the graces necessary to have hope.

Children need to know this prayer and its virtue so that they enter life prepared to count on God's promises when the need arises.

If you are teaching this Act while teaching children about Communion, keep learning it away from the Saint Andrew Christmas Prayer as its ending is very similar.

The Act of Hope reminds us what our Faith will provide in the end.

"If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:15,16).

It helps to run the race when one has the goal in mind, especially on the very Word of Jesus Himself!

You or your students can learn the Acts of Faith, Hope and Charity easily with St. Anne's Helper's Audio CDs and Copybooks.

Digital Baltimore Catechism Communion and Confirmation ebooks, worksheets, and coloring downloads.

3. Act of Charity: Act of Love

O my God! I love Thee above all things,
With my whole heart and soul,
Because Thou art all-good and worthy of all my love.

I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee.

I forgive all who have injured me,
And ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

The old Act of Charity from the 1884 Baltimore Catechism is easy to learn. It is a beautiful prayer to gain the grace necessary to love God and our neighbor. It is usually assigned with the Act of Faith and the Act of Hope.

Making this Act disposes us to keep the greatest Commandment, "Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)

This one prayer alone expresses most of what is necessary to die as a martyr, just add praying for the conversion of one's persecutor!

Many people who are studying to receive the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation are asked to learn the several Acts in preparation for receiving the sacraments. These prayers have the very sentiments that we must have if we are to live as a strong soldier of Jesus Christ and die well. These prayers cover the virtues that the Catholic Church looks for in determining if one has died as a martyr.

Watch teaching very little ones these different Acts until the Act of Contrition is well learned for receiving the sacrament of Penance. They can confuse these prayers easily since they all start with the phrase, "O my God!..." This Act in particular has a phrase that might cause the recitation to end with the ending to the Act of Contrition.

This can be tricky for adults, too. Ask me how I know. :-)

If your students are especially bright or say their Act of Contrition each night, the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity make excellent morning and evening prayers since they dispose us to love God all day and to trust Him through the night.

Of course, you can make a personal act of faith without the formal words any time of the day or night.

St. Anne's Helper has the main Catholic prayers on audio and printable worksheets, and you can see them in the First Communion and Confirmation catechisms.

Digital Baltimore Catechism Communion and Confirmation ebooks, worksheets, and coloring downloads.

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