During the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, a favorite phrase was sola fidei, which meant “faith alone.” This was the reformers’ way of saying that faith itself would save you. As Catholic Christians, though, we believe that Jesus Christ saved us, and our response to that salvation is to live our lives by demonstrating our faith through good works.
In other words, it is not good enough to say, “I have faith,” if I do not actively live out that faith by doing works of charity or mercy. St. James reminds us that faith without works is dead. On the other hand, someone could do good works without having any kind of faith tradition. Who, then, is the better person? The one who professes a faith but doesn’t live it? Or the one who lives a good life but has no specific faith background?
However, if one claims to be Catholic or Christian, that person should demonstrate their faith by good works. Moreover, if we truly believe our faith, we will live that faith even to the point of death.
