What is faith?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). What we hope for, though it is not seen with the physical eye, is yet a present reality. Indeed, we do not touch it physically, but we experience it spiritually, and it generates peace, joy, and rejoicing in the soul. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, “Faith is an eye that enlightens every conscience, and imparts understanding; for the Prophet says, And if you do not believe, you shall not understand (Isa. 7:9 LXX).”²⁸ And St. Augustine says, “What is faith but to believe what you do not see?... The reward of faith is to see what you believe in. We can believe only when we want to. Do not seek to understand that you may believe, but to believe that you may understand. ”²⁹