DF 25, 26, 27 - storehouses of faith

DF 25, 26, 27

From his earliest childhood

a person has the affection of knowing,

which leads him to learn many things

that will be of use to him,

and many that will be of no use.

. . . every person not only regards uses

for the sake of life in this world,

but also should regard uses

for the sake of his life in heaven

(for into this life he will come after his life here,

and will live in it to eternity) . . .

But all these knowledges,

whatever may be their number

and whatever their nature,

are merely the storehouse of material

from which the faith of charity can be formed,

and this faith cannot be formed

except in proportion as the person shuns evils as sins.

If he shuns evils as sins,

then these knowledges become those of a faith

that has spiritual life within it.

But if he does not shun evils as sins,

then these knowledges are nothing but knowledges,

and do not become those of a faith

that has any spiritual life within it.